Biola’s tuition will increase $1,138 for the next academic year of 2013-2014, according to a recent letter to the student body president from Michael Pierce, Biola’s vice president of financial affairs.
Pierce explained that the tuition increase is caused by the general inflation of costs to run the school.
“Those inflationary costs are due to anything from fuel prices to health care costs, to a normal merit increase to staff and faculty. So it’s basically as a result of inflation that we end up passing those increases onto students,” Pierce said.
However, Biola is trying to make its education more affordable for students who struggle financially, Pierce said.
Biola makes efforts to lessen financial struggles through scholarships
One of the efforts to make tuition less burdensome for the 2013-14 school year is the addition of $2 million to the $32 million scholarship fund from the past 2012-13 year. The university scholarship fund consists primarily of grants given directly as tuition discounts to students.
“The majority of scholarship money for academic and need-based scholarships is straight reduction from tuition. We actually run the school on an amount less than the actual dollar amount of tuition because we’re funding scholarships. And then in addition to that, we have alumni that are donating,” Pierce explained.
Tuition discounts, more commonly known as university grants, combat unavoidable yearly increase of tuition and keep the average student’s tuition increase at bay, according to Pierce.
Offset by the increased amount of scholarship funds, the overall increase of tuition is kept at about 3 percent for the average student, added Pierce.
Many students have experienced stress with the increase of tuition at Biola.
“It’s difficult, but doable in my case,” freshman liberal studies and elementary education major Hayley Darien said.
Students who do not qualify for as much financial aid
Like a number of students, Darien receives financial aid including grants, scholarships and federal loans to help pay for her tuition.
Hudson’s case is a little different. For a student like Hudson, who does not qualify for much financial aid, numerous student loans are all that she can rely on to pay for Biola’s hefty bill, she explained.
“I know some people have extended family that helps pay,” Hudson said. “But my family doesn’t have grandparents to help, so it probably affects my family more than it would others.”
She is graduating this year, but her younger sister is now a sophomore and will be attending the full four years at Biola.
Biola cost $31,004 for 2012-2013, and now $32,142 for the 2013-2014 year, according to its tuition and costs webpage. In contrast, Azusa Pacific University, a similar local private college, cost $30,236 for the 2012-2013 academic year, according to their undergraduate tuition and fees webpage. Likewise, The Master’s College in Santa Clarita cost $28,380 for the 2013-2014 year, as shown in their tuition and fees website.
“I’m probably going to be paying back loans till the day I die, but it’s worth it."
Even with Biola’s bulky tuition bill, Hudson appreciates that the campus is kept clean and enjoyable, and crediting Biola’s faith-focused curriculum for making it worth the extra money.
“At least for me, the spiritual integration in all the education is why I’m paying to stay at Biola,” she said. “I’m probably going to be paying back loans till the day I die, but it’s worth it.”
Biola’s efforts to reduce tuition stress on students do not go unnoticed. Pierce relayed a story of students showing their gratitude to Pierce and his department’s work to keep education costs as low as possible.
“I got a nice thank-you note and a plate of cookies from students who are saying, ‘Thank you for doing what you do,’” he said. “I really appreciate the students and what they’re here for, and we are doing our best to bring down the cost of college education and still make sure it’s a good quality education, too.”
