Regents to consider plan that would raise average price by 3.9 percent
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 yearâÂÂs increase, which was 6.8 percent.
âÂÂWeâÂÂve always had very economic room and board,â said Ken Stoner, director of student housing. âÂÂWeâÂÂre very pleased to keep rates as low as they are.âÂÂ
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 UniversityâÂÂs proposed increase is 6.7 percent.
KUâÂÂs 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 KUâÂÂs 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.
âÂÂAll of our facilities will be online again,â he said. âÂÂItâÂÂs always a strain on the years you have one down. You lose some of your economies of scale.âÂÂ
About 18 percent of KUâÂÂs 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.