Editorial By Caleb Nix 03.28.2014

What can you buy with $34,980? You can buy 6,663 foot longs from Subway or you could watch 3,498 showings of Muppets Most Wanted at the movie theater. Chances are you won’t consume that much Muppet mayhem or subs in the upcoming year. Instead, you will most likely be spending that on the next year’s tuition.

 

Milligan’s 2014-2015 tuition increased three percent, breaking last year’s record of a four percent increase. This year, students will be paying $1,049 more in costs.

 

“I am really pleased that we were able to keep the tuition increase so low,” said President Greer. “It is the lowest we are aware of having.”

 

While this news is hopeful, keep in mind that tuition will most likely always increase each year.

 

So, where exactly does your money go?

 

Fifty percent of this year’s budget is going to teachers and staff, 10 percent to campus upkeep or the physical plant, 16 percent to student services (food and other non-class related prices) and 24 percent to administrative support and general operations.

 

Also keep in mind how much money Milligan gives out in scholarships. The average price students pay after receiving aid is $15,000, well under the national average for private institutions. Milligan continues to give a return on this investment with nearly 100 percent of our graduates moving on to graduate school or finding a job within one year. Most of the increase is due to normal inflation of costs.

 

“I am really happy with President Greer and his staff doing their best to keep Milligan as affordable as possible for the students, “ said sophomore Emilee Leichty.

 

One of the main ways Milligan can keep costs low is through donations from alumni and other people in the community. Donations generally come in around 3 million each year. This allows Milligan students to graduate with an average debt of $4,000 less then the national average.