CNU raises student tuition, fees

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - The Christopher Newport University Board of Visitors announced Monday that students will have to dig deeper in their pockets to pay for the upcoming school year.

The total increase for tuition, fees and room and board costs for in-state students will be $1300, or 7.5 percent. Out-of-state students will see a 8.5 percent increase for the same services.

Educators say the move is necessary to offset a 6-point-2 million dollar loss in state general funds for fiscal year 2012.

"I just think it's putting a lot of unnecessary strain on families and people who have to pay for themselves," said student Allie Daugherty.

On a positive note, the University is setting aside close to $1 million for financial aid next year.

Still, Sophomore Chelsea Dilworth says even with financial aid, she has to work to make ends meet.

"There are so many people going here...and the number of students is increasing. They're getting more and more money, I don't know why they have to increase the tuition," she said.

"Well those are good questions to ask people in Richmond," said CNU President Paul Trible. "The reason we're being forced to increase in-state tuition is that we've lost 35 percent of our state funding."

Trible says other Virginia universities rely on out of state students to make up the difference.

"I don't want to do that; I believe our job is to educate the sons and daughters of Virginia, only 5 percent of our students are from out of state," he said.

Trible says that may have to change if things in Richmond don't. Until then, CNU's sons and daughters of Virginia are stuck with the bill.