The Austin Community College board of trustees voted Monday to keep tuition rates the same for the fifth year in a row.
The unanimous vote comes two weeks before students can register for fall semester classes.
The tuition rates are as follows:
- In-district tuition: $67 per semester credit hour
- Out-of-district tuition: $67 per semester credit hour
- Out-of-state tuition: $418 per semester credit hour
- Out-of-district fee: $278 per semester credit hour
The board also voted on a
policy change that effectively lowers the out-of-district fee by $77 a credit hour.
The new policy calls for the out-of-district fee—paid by students who
live outside of the area ACC serves—to be three times the $67 per credit in-district tuition.
Neil Vickers, ACC's executive vice president of finance and administration, said the policy will not take effect immediately because the board is waiting to see how much funding will be appropriated from the state.
The Texas Legislature is still in session, and a special session may be called in June before a vote on the state budget can be taken.
Vickers said he hopes to implement the policy change as soon as possible, and it may have to be phased in over time.
The policy change will cut about $4 million from ACC's budget, he said. The board will vote on the passage of its full budget later this summer, and Vickers said although it is still early, he is predicting a balanced budget.
