The Ball State University Board of Trustees approved a 4.4 percent increase in room and board costs for Fall 2009 in its meeting Friday.
Students who have finished one year of the two-year premium plan will not see an increase, Student Trustee Kellie Conrad said. This means the average proposed increase for all students is 3.1 percent.
Conrad said the increase is necessary because of extended dining hours, the need for new equipment, rising food costs and the need to stay afloat in tough economic times.
"In order to provide what students want, we have to increase rates," she said.
Conrad said the increase is comparable to past years and is less than increases at other Midwestern universities.
Next year Indiana University will increase its room and board fees 5.7 percent, Purdue University 6 percent and Miami University 5.1 percent, Conrad said.
Ball State's overall rates will remain lower for students than those schools, she said.
"They will be paying a little bit more for room and board, however the important thing to look at here is we are still one of the most affordable colleges compared to our competitors," she said.
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