Slight increase in Univ. of Delaware tuition

Tuition is going up about four and a half percent for in-state students at the University of Delaware.  Out-of-state students will pay nearly five percent more.

The 2012-2013 tuition rate for in-state students will be $11,682, an increase of $490.  Non-Delawareans will pay $28,772 for the year, an increase of $1,310.  For both in- and out-of-state students, the increase it’s the lowest percentage increase in the last five years.

“UD is committed to being affordable to for students without sacrificing quality,” said UD president Patrick Harker.  When you add in room and board, in-state students will pay a total of $22,440, out-of-staters will pay $39,530.

While announcing the increase, school leaders are quick to point out Delaware’s efforts to provide financial aid for as many students as possible.  “The amount of financial aid we provide has increased significantly in recent years, and this aid is an important part of our pledge to help students access a UD education,” said Harker.  UD distributes more than $200 million in financial aid for students, an increase of $84 million over the last five years.  

Even with the higher tuition, UD is quick to point out that the school remains a good value.  Citing a study published in Bloomberg Businessweek, UD is near the top in the nation when it comes to colleges in terms of return on investment.  The study of graduates’ earning power minus tuition spent found just 13 schools were better than the University of Delaware.