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Tennessee Tech board approves 4.8% undergraduate tuition increase and mandatory fee changes
Summary
The Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees approved a 4.8% increase in undergraduate maintenance tuition, a 5.0% increase for graduate maintenance fees and a 5.05% rise in mandatory fees; trustees and administrators discussed state funding patterns, peer university comparisons, student aid and the estimated per‑student impact.
The Tennessee Technological University Board of Trustees voted to raise undergraduate maintenance tuition by 4.8%, set a 5.0% graduate maintenance increase and increase mandatory fees by 5.05% for the coming year.
Dr. Stinson presented the proposal, telling trustees the increase responds in part to limited state operating support and to inflationary pressures including salary and benefit costs. The presentation noted the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) established a 0–6.5% range for institutions this year and that Tennessee Tech’s proposed increases fall below that maximum. Dr. Stinson said state appropriations for FY25–26 include partial funding for salary increases but that tuition must cover remaining operating needs.
Trustees heard peer comparisons showing a range of proposed tuition increases across Tennessee institutions: examples cited included Austin Peay (5%), East Tennessee State University (near 5%), Middle Tennessee State University (about 5.5%), UT Chattanooga (3%), UT Martin (3%) and others. The board was told the university’s proposed undergraduate increase translates to about $240 more per full-time undergraduate student per semester. Administrators recommended a $15-per-semester increase to a facilities-development fee (to fund student-centric space renewals and furniture replacement) and a $20-per-semester increase to the fitness center fee to cover equipment replacement and operations.
Dr. Stinson and trustees discussed financial-aid offsets. Presentation materials listed common award types — the Presidential Scholarship, HOPE Scholarship, Pell Grant, Tennessee Student Assistance Award and the Aspire award — and noted that roughly half of Tennessee Tech students receive Pell grants (many not at full Pell amounts). Trustees were shown sample net‑cost calculations for different scholarship scenarios and were reminded that state scholarship programs and institutional aid can reduce the out-of-pocket impact for many students.
The administration estimated the revenue from the proposed tuition and fee increases at approximately $4.28 million, combined with state appropriations of about $3.1 million, leaving a budgetary balance of roughly $224,000 to address other projected cost increases (including a 2.6% salary pool with fringes, faculty promotions and inflation in utilities and contracts).
Trustees and presenters spent substantial time on communications and student impacts. Several trustees read or referenced public comments from students and said better communication with students about how fees are used and about available aid is important. Trustees also discussed athletics funding: presenters and trustees noted misconceptions among some commenters that tuition primarily funds athletics and reiterated that auxiliaries and athletic fundraising operate separately from the general tuition budget.
After discussion, the board approved the tuition-and-fees recommendation by roll-call vote. Those recorded voting "Aye" included Trustee Lowery, Trustee Luna, Trustee Linn, Trustee Rose, Trustee Rhodes, Trustee Sykes and Trustee Harper; the motion passed. Trustees asked administrators to continue working on financial-aid outreach and on clearer communications about the drivers of cost and the effect of state appropriations.
