With the construction and improvement of the residence halls on campus comes additional costs - and students will ultimately see those next year.

The MSU Board of Trustees unanimously voted at its meeting Friday to increase housing rates by 4.6 percent, about $206, for the year. Effective next year, it will cost $4,678 a year for a student to live in a double room in residence halls.

While this is the tenth-straight year rates have increased, MSU remains cheaper than its peers, said Angela Brown, director of University Housing.

“When you compare the (rate hikes) to other schools, you see they are either below or are one of the lowest increases,” she said. “The rates have been very reasonable, and are even below the rate of inflation most of the time.

“Many schools go up more than that.”

Brown said rates have continued to go up during the years to match the economy’s inflation, and 1 percent was added this year to maintain the residence halls facility renewals.

Shaw Hall, which will be closed for renovations during the 2001-2002 academic year, will see some of the money that comes from the added fees.

Kara Nygren, a medical technology sophomore, said while she doesn’t like that rates were going up, comparatively to other schools, “it could be worse.”

“Maybe because I don’t use some of the programs that they are offering I don’t care as much,” said Nygren, who lives in Akers Hall. “It’s just dorms - it’s not like they are that great and you always hear everyone say it’s cheaper to live off campus.

“But if they keep increasing does that mean living off-campus will keep going up too?”

MSU Board of Trustee Chairperson Colleen McNamara said the board made it a point to think of off-campus living when deciding to raise the rates.

“We know what kind of maintenance is needed to keep facilities competitive with private apartments and still be attractive to students,” she said.

“We made a very conservative business decision with what we are doing with rental housing.”

McNamara said she hopes students understand the hike was necessary for maintenance.

“We are not raising the rates to be mean,” she said.

Even with the increase, MSU still sports the lowest housing costs of any public colleges and universities and Michigan. And when compared to Big Ten schools, only the University of Iowa is more expensive.

Bret Nelson, a general management freshman, is living on campus next year and said he has his doubts about the positive effects of paying more.

“I don’t see how it could be good because paying more money is never good,” he said, although admitting the low increase wasn’t horrible. “There are disadvantages to living in the dorms, including noise, and having that many people around.

“But I don’t feel too strongly one way or the other.”

MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson said the rate hike was the “best thing we can do for students.”

“If we don’t maintain housing, less students will want to live in it,” he said.

“Certainly then we will have to raise rents, and raise fees to cover those left.”

Staff Writer Nicole Jacques contributed to this report.

Rachel Wright can be reached at wrightr9@msu.edu.