OTC board votes to raise tuition

Last edited 12:12 p.m., April 10, 2012

The Ozarks Technical Community College Board of Trustees yesterday voted unanimously to raise tuition by roughly 6 percent for all of its students, effective June 1.

In-district tuition will increase to $91 per credit hour from $86; out-of-district tuition will rise to $128.50 per credit hour from $121.50; and out-of-state tuition will jump to $169 per credit hour from $159, according to Steve Koehler, OTC coordinator of media relations.

The board also voted to raise fees for culinary arts laboratory courses to $130 from $100 and fees for welding laboratory courses to $160 from $140. It also voted to add a credit by exam fee, which would allow students to test out of certain classes for $40.

Joel Doepker, OTC director of communications and marketing, said tuition increases are not ideal, but state funding for the college has dropped by 22 percent during the past three years. He added that OTC also has seen rising costs associated with utilities, retirement contributions and additional staffing.

J. Howard Fisk, owner of J. Howard Fisk Limousines Inc. and president of the Ozarks Technical Community College Board of Trustees, referred questions about the tuition changes to OTC Chancellor Hal Higdon, who was in a cabinet meeting this morning and unavailable for comment.[[In-content Ad]]