Stark State College hikes tuition for first time in four years
School near Akron offers wide variety of 2-year degrees.
Stark State College is increasing its tuition for the first time in four years.
The instructional fee portion of tuition increased $10 per credit hour and the general fee increased $6 per credit hour, resulting in an overall cost of $169.60 per credit hour.
This is a 10.4 percent increase from the previous tuition amount.
Stark State’s tuition remains the lowest in the region, and the college continues to increase its scholarship support for students, Para M. Jones, Stark State College president, said in a news release issued Wednesday.
Stark State College, with a main campus in Jackson Township, will begin offering classes this fall at its new Akron campus on Perkins Avenue, just west of state Route 8.
Growing campus
Stark State officials have said they hope to enroll as many as 5,000 students at the Akron location within five years of its opening.
The public school, which opened a temporary Akron site off White Pond Drive in 2017, offers a variety of twoyear associate degrees and certificate programs.
The $10 increase in the instructional fee is the maximum that the state allows for Ohio public community and technical colleges.
The increase in the general fees amount is because of a new career services fee of $6 per credit hour. The state legislature approved a measure last year allowing Ohio’s community colleges to charge career services fees.
Limit of costs
Students are not charged tuition or fees for the credit hours they take beyond 16 per semester.
The total cost for 16 credit hours is $2,713.60.
The fee will help fund additional tutoring services, student support and counseling services, student success coaches and additional services for students who are veterans, as well as those with disabilities.
The college said that in recent years it has increased scholarship opportunities, making $900,000 available annually through the college and the Stark State College Foundation.
It also noted it has teamed up with Stark Area Regional Transit Authority to provide free public transportation to Stark State students on any SARTA route.
A SARTA route goes from Stark State’s main campus in Jackson to the Akron Metro Transit Station in downtown Akron and back to main campus at no cost to students.
The college also has created an emergency fund program for students who have unexpected one-time financial needs that could hinder their ability to pay for school.
In addition, Stark State said it has expanded its textbook rental program.