The College of Charleston Board of Trustees voted today to approve a tuition increase of 3.15 percent for in-state undergraduate students and a 4 percent increase for out-of-state undergraduate students for the 2012-2013 academic year.

For 2012-2013, undergraduate South Carolina students will pay $9,918 in annual tuition. Out-of-state students will pay $25,304. Graduate School tuition will be $10,910 for in-state residents and $27,834 for out-of-state residents.

“After careful consideration of the financial needs of the College, as well as the impact that a tuition increase will have on our students and their families, this decision will maintain tuition at a reasonable level while funding the College’s share of a state-mandated salary increase and implementing some important aspects of the College’s Strategic Plan,” said Greg Padgett, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “There is great value in a College of Charleston education, and the board believes this increase will allow the College to maintain both quality and affordability.”

“The new budget responds to priorities identified by our students and other campus constituencies,” said George Benson, President of the College.  “It will help us enhance academic quality through investments in people and information technology.  It will improve access through investments in our North Campus, and it builds on our commitment to become even more efficient.”

The tuition increase associated with this year’s budget will likely leave the College of Charleston’s tuition ranking 6th or 7th for in-state tuition among South Carolina’s 13 four-year public universities.