The price of a college education in Oregon just got steeper, but it’s no surprise to students. Tuition hikes were capped during last year’s legislative session.

Last week, the state Board of Higher Education approved recommendations that will increase tuition an average of 3 percent at Oregon’s seven public universities. Tuition and fees together will increase an average of 3.8 percent.

At Oregon State University, tuition will increase 3 percent for the 2006-07 school year, and tuition and fees will increase 4 percent.

Student fees support various cultural and other activities on campus, including student government, clubs and organizations, and athletics. Students also pay fees to help cover technology, building and health services costs.

Next year, an in-state undergraduate student at OSU will pay an estimated $5,643 in tuition and fees. This figure is based on three terms of 12 credit hours each.

“No one wants to pay more money, but 4 percent is really reasonable,” said Megan Driver, a first-year student at OSU majoring in Spanish and political science.

Driver is the new Associated Students of OSU state affairs task force director. She’s also an Oregon Student Association board member.

Jay Kenton, Oregon University System’s vice chancellor for finance and administration, said the state Board of Higher Education must balance student affordability with bringing faculty salaries to peer levels, restoring reasonable faculty-student ratios and, over time, eliminating the $600 million deferred maintenance backlog.

The Oregon Student Association lobbied to freeze tuition last year. The non-profit organization, which advocates for the students of Oregon’s public universities, also called for an increase in Oregon Opportunity Grant funding.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s proposed budget called for 5-7 percent tuition increases each year during the 2005-07 biennium, but the Legislature settled on a maximum 3 percent raise per year for undergraduate resident tuition.

“Our sense is that 3 percent is a reasonable tuition increase,” said Morgan Cowling, Oregon Student Association legislative director.

The Legislature capped resource fees at 9.1 percent of gross tuition revenue. Resource fees include energy surcharges, matriculation fees and program fees.

The Oregon Student Assistance Commission, which administers the Oregon Opportunity Grant program, received $76.3 million in general fund support for the biennium. Oregon Opportunity Grant funding increased by 76.5 percent — a $34.8 million boost.

Presidents get raises

In part, the tuition increases will help the state provide more competitive salaries for its presidents, officials said. At last week’s board meeting, Chancellor George Pernsteiner showed how Oregon campus presidents’ salaries compare to those of presidents at peer institutions.

They will receive raises bringing them to 86 percent of the average salary of presidents at comparable universities.

For OSU President Ed Ray, this will mean an increase of about $16,000. Ray hasn’t received a raise since he came to OSU in 2003. University presidents, like all state employees, faced a wage freeze during the 2003-05 biennium.

Ray had been getting $205,008 a year, plus a $90,000 supplement from the OSU Foundation.

For 2006-07, he’ll receive $221,100, plus the $90,000 supplement. This raise will be retroactive to Jan. 1. He also receives a housing and car allowance.

Student lobbyists are already looking toward the 2007-09 biennium.

Cowling said the Oregon Student Association would like to see tuition increases capped at 3.3 percent per year, the projected growth in median family income.

Reporter Mary Ann Albright covers higher education. She can be reached at maryann.albright@lee.net or 758-9518.