On-campus students will see yet another increase of room and board rates for the 2016-17 academic school year. But this time, it is the lowest number in at least 18 years.
In recent years, the rate has fluctuated but the increases have been on a steady decline since the 2011-12 academic school year, which had a rate increase of 4.95 percent.
The residence hall rate for a double room for undergraduate students will increase by $108, as the MSU Board of Trustees voted to increase the price by 2.75 percent at its meeting on April 15. For the 2015-16 school year, the price of a double room with a silver meal plan was estimated to be $9,524.
"It's 2.75 percent, (what) that represents is $108 a year per room and $152 for the academic year for the dining," Vice President for Auxiliary Enterprises Vennie Gore said.
Gore said the increase is lower due to capping expenses and other factors.
"We reinvest our money back into the facilities," Gore said. "We want it to be here for future generations of students."
He said students can see the improvements being done with their investment just by walking through campus.
MSU's presence in the Big Ten room and board ranking is towards the end of the pack with rates almost $6,000 less than the number one spot, Northwestern University at $15,367.
"Our rates are the third lowest in the Big Ten," Gore said.
However, MSU ranks at the top of the list for Michigan universities. The rates rank closely to Michigan Tech and Oakland University, but still trail the University of Michigan by nearly $1,000.
Gore said the dining plans differ so the comparison would change in the ranking if the details of the plan were taken into consideration. He said the dining plans of other Michigan universities have different offers within their plans.
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