Tuition at Southern University recently received an increase, but compared to other Historically Black Colleges and Universities Southern is still substantially cheaper.

Earlier this month, Southern University students were notified of a $52 tuition increase that will take place at the beginning of the fall 2005 semester.  As the news circulated around campus, it did not sit too well with most of the student body.

'The tuition situation has been crazy ever since I got here,' said Nathaniel Brown, a junior from Orlando.  'Each year I"ve been a student, I have had to pay more than the year before.'

Although the tuition increase does mean more money, the cost to attend Southern ranks it as one of the most pocket-friendly HBCUs in the country. Considering how every black college and university"s tuition has increased over the recent years and how the tuition prices all over the nation are subject to rise at any given time SU still remains among the lowest. 

'I"m not totally against it -- we get what we pay for,' said Dwayne Grant, a sophomore from St. James.  'But Southern should show students evidence of things they have done with tuition increases from previous years before they ask for another one.'

 Out of the top 15 HBCU"s in the United States, SU has the second-cheapest tuition price per semester based on in-state tuition at $1,744.  Southern is only behind North Carolina A&T University, which is $1,533.  However, according to the treasurer at A&T, their tuition is also going to increase at the start of next semester. 

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities with the most expensive tuitions are all private, four-year institutions such as Morehouse ($14,318) and Spelman ($12,700). Some schools, like Hampton ($9,965), are also independent institutions, meaning that they are funded from sources other than their respective state.

 Many black schools have to raise tuition when they are faced with issues concerning spending major money to fund things like student aid. 

Some schools also have to worry about the cost of labor around the campus and others, especially HBCU"s, must constantly face the possibility of decreasing state support. 

In Southern"s case, the money collected from the extra tuition cost will aid in paying for things like unfunded mandates and university group insurance, which are necessities.

'I sure hope they keep the price constant for awhile,' Brown said.  'At least longer than a year.'

TOP 15 HBCUs TUITION  (IN STATE)

1. Morehouse                 $14,318

2. Johnson C. Smith        $13, 712

3. Clark Atlanta              $13,486

4. Spelman                     $12,700

5. Hampton                    $9,965

6. Xavier                                    $6,050

7. Fisk                           $5,885

8. Tuskegee                   $5, 645

9. Howard                      $5,420

10. Bethune-Cookman      $5, 305

11. FAMU                       $3, 581

12. Morgan State            $2, 859

13. Tenn. State                           $2, 019

14. Southern University   $1, 744

15. NC A&T                    $1, 533