HILSBORO – When Jefferson College students attend their classes in the fall 2024 semester they will be the first group on campus enrolled under a new tiered tuition model, which simplifies billing, makes the Missouri A+ scholarship program more efficient for students, and better represents the costs of each class offered.
In an effort to improve transparency in the billing process, the Jefferson College Board of Trustees approved a model that combines tuition and common fees based on the expenses of providing those classes. All general education classes, and more than 75 percent of all Jefferson College’s courses, are in the lowest of three cost levels.
“For students who take advantage of Missouri’s A+ program, this will allow them to have more of their expenses covered,” said Dr. Dena McCaffrey, president of Jefferson College. “Overall, this new model allows students to maximize their A+ benefits, improves transparency in pricing, and better aligns tuition rates with instructional costs.”
Common charges that will be eliminated include technology, activity, lab, online and hybrid fees. The textbook fee will not be incorporated into the tiered tuition, because students have the choice to opt out of the Viking Ready program. Although the Viking Ready Book Bundle provides course materials at a reduced rate, students still have the option to purchase materials from other sources instead.
Currently, additional lab fees are charged for programs that utilize consumable materials, specialized software, and industry-recognized credentials. Those fees are also included in the tiered tuition rates.
“Courses like welding or science labs have course fees that cover consumables used in lab instruction,” McCaffrey said. “The Missouri A+ scholarship does not pay for individual course fees, only tuition for those classes. Since those fees will no longer be charged to a student’s account, more costs will be covered in the tiered tuition model.”
Tier II classes include Automotive Technology, Chemistry, Culinary Arts, Law Enforcement, Veterinary Technology, Welding and six others.
Tier III classes are Nursing, Radiologic Technology, and Physical Therapy Assistant.
Students in those programs will pay Tier II and Tier III rates for the courses in those subject and the Tier I rate for their general education requirement classes.
The change does represent increased costs for students. Traditionally, Jefferson College has kept its tuition rates low and balanced among its primary income sources of local taxes, state appropriations, and the amounts paid by students. Local taxes and state funding directly support colleges in providing affordable higher education, but they do not cover the total cost of delivering quality instruction. The remaining costs are funded by tuition and fees.
According to McCaffrey, “Over the past several years, Jefferson College’s tuition has not kept up with the rate of inflation, and this year we would have needed to raise tuition to cover instructional expenses. Rather than simply increasing the tuition rate as we have historically, the College invested a lot of thought, time, and research in creating this tuition proposal.”
While the change is new for Jefferson College, tiered tuition has become standard at many higher learning institutions on a state and national level, said Dr. Chris DeGeare, vice president of Academic Affairs.
“All but one of Missouri’s community college systems has adopted tiered tuition,” DeGeare said. “While each model varies, the overall goals at Jefferson College are to be clear and up front about our prices and more closely match the amount individual students pay with the expense the college incurs in providing instruction and the income they will earn in their field upon completion.”
In-district tuition for Tier I classes in 2024-25 will be $175 per credit hour, compared to $120 per credit hour plus the $25 technology fee, $5 activity fee, and lab, online or hybrid fees that applied to some classes.
Tier II classes are $230 per credit hour for in-district students, and Tier III courses are $295 per credit hour.
Tuition rates are higher for Missouri residents who live outside of the Jefferson Community College District, and more for out of state students.