March 20, 2018 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Community College trustees approved a 0.88% tuition increase for the 2018-2019 academic year, the lowest increase in nearly two decades.
President Bill Pink said the new tuition rate, approved unanimously by the board of trustees on Monday, reflects GRCC’s focus on keeping an associate degree accessible and affordable for students of all ages, from high school graduates starting their post-secondary education to adults seeking skills for new and evolving fields.
“We know that education is vitally important for our entire community,” Pink said. “Keeping our tuition increase at less than 1% reflects our commitment to the people we serve, and our intent to help everyone have the opportunity to advance their education and build on their skills.”
The in-district tuition rate of $114 per credit hour is a 0.88% increase from the 2017-2018 rate, and the smallest increase since the 0.9% uptick in the 1999-2000 academic year. Including universal fees, the total cost for a fulltime student will be $3,879 for the year.
Even with the tuition increase, students eligible for a full Pell grant award will have more than $2,000 available to cover textbooks and other educational expenses.
Pink said the college is building partnerships throughout West Michigan to create and expand other opportunities to keep a GRCC education affordable, including dual enrollment programs that serve 720 high school students this year and early/middle college programs with more than 300 students in five school districts.
The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation also is working with partners to help with college expenses, including the Health Care Professionals Education Scholarship Fund, a collaboration with Spectrum Health. Last month, GRCC was awarded $1 million from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to expand programs that connect vulnerable populations with careers in public works and health care.
Grand Rapids Community College has been offering educational opportunities in West Michigan for more than 100 years. Established in 1914, the college offers degree courses, certification and training programs, and workshops and personal enrichment classes. Offerings are held on GRCC’s downtown Grand Rapids campus, and at several locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties, as well as through distance learning.
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