Housing costs would increase an average of 3.9 percent at Kansas University next year under a proposal submitted to the Kansas Board of Regents.

The percentage increase is less than most other state universities and less than this year’s increase, which was 6.8 percent.

“We’ve always had very economic room and board,” said Ken Stoner, director of student housing. “We’re very pleased to keep rates as low as they are.”

A typical double-occupancy room in a residence hall and a meal plan costs $4,642 per year at KU. The new rate would be $4,822.

Most students in scholarship halls pay between $3,166 and $3,278 per year. The new rates would be between $3,290 and $3,460 per year.

Regents will consider the rate increase at their meeting next week in Topeka. Proposed percentage increases range from 3 percent at Emporia State University to 13.8 percent at Fort Hays State University. FHSU would use funds from the large increase to pay for residence hall renovations.

Kansas State University’s proposed increase is 6.7 percent.

Hashinger Hall freshman residents Justin Mouzoukos, left, Overland Park, and Tyler Balsman, Uniontown, Mo., chat on the hall's porch. KU students who live in university housing may have to come up with extra money next year, if the Board of Regents approves a 3.9 percent increase in housing costs.

KU’s residence hall rates currently are the highest among state universities in Kansas. The least expensive is Pittsburg State University, where a typical room runs $4,006 per year.

But Stoner said KU students still paid less than their counterparts at other universities. Data compiled by The College Board showed KU’s rates were $940 less than the average at public universities, and $2,137 less than at private universities.

The extra $782,000 raised by the increase would help cover increasing costs, Stoner said. He said having Ellsworth Hall reopen next year also would help revenue. The hall closed this year for renovations.

“All of our facilities will be online again,” he said. “It’s always a strain on the years you have one down. You lose some of your economies of scale.”

About 18 percent of KU’s Lawrence students live on campus this semester, including 3,231 students in residence halls on Daisy Hill, 733 in Jayhawker Towers, 484 in scholarship halls and 280 in Stouffer Place Apartments.

¢KU Department of Student Housing