USC trustees approve largest tuition hike in five years

COLUMBIA, SC Students at the University of South Carolina will pay 3.25 percent more on average to attend the state’s flagship university starting this fall.

The school’s board of trustees voted Friday to approve the hike, USC’s largest in five years.

Undergraduates from South Carolina will pay $11,855 for the upcoming academic year, $373 more than in 2015-16. Out-of-state students will pay $31,283, up $985 from last year.

USC’s 3.25 percent hike is on pace with other four-year public colleges across the state.

Clemson University this week approved a 3.14 percent tuition increase for students from South Carolina and a 4.27 percent increase for out-of-state students.

The College of Charleston will increase tuition by 3.5 percent, the The Citadel by roughly 3 percent and Winthrop University by 2.5 percent.

USC President Harris Pastides in a statement lamented the lack of state funding for South Carolina’s largest public college. About 10.5 percent of USC’s $1.5 billion budget this year comes from the state.

State support for S.C. colleges has waned since the Great Recession. In 2007-08, state dollars accounted for 23 percent of USC’s then-$1 billion budget. USC has increased tuition every year since 1987.

USC Chief Financial Officer Leslie Brunelli said the state-mandated 3.25 percent pay raise for state employees will cost the school about $11.8 million. The state is expected to provide $4.4 million of that, but USC must pay the rest with tuition revenue, according to a statement from spokesman Wes Hickman.

Tuition revenue will comprise nearly 48 percent of USC’s budget. USC has increased tuition every year since 1987.

This story was originally published June 24, 2016 at 1:38 PM with the headline "USC trustees approve largest tuition hike in five years."