Tuition and parking permit prices increase, leaving many Bluejays flightless

This summer, Bluejays were welcomed back to campus with a 3.5% tuition increase and an additional $50 parking permit expense.

In January, the Office of Business and Finance informed students via email that the Elmhurst University Board of Trustees approved a 3.5% undergraduate tuition increase for the 2023-24 school year. 

This brings the grand total of tuition to $41,258, compared to the previous academic year’s $39,862.

In the email, the Office of Business and Finance explained that they believe this decision is one made with the students in mind, in their commitment to further allocate funds to enhance the educational experience. 

They cited a new health sciences building and improvement in academic and athletic recreation facilities as the destinations for this extra funding. 

However, despite touting these improvements, some students are questioning the impact of their extra tuition costs. 

Senior Jorge Luis Garcia has seen this happen before.

“I think it’s unfair how they raise the price every year, and this year it’s over a thousand dollars,” Garcia said. “The same benefits we got last year are the ones we’re getting this year. We’re not getting anything new.”

The Office of Business and Finance also made a point to remind students of their sensitivity to the current state of the economy and the impact this current climate has on the student body. 

They mention that they have limited the tuition increase to only half of the current rate of inflation. 

Junior Itzel Cedillo-Arenas felt that the Office of Business and Finance’s announcement about the tuition increase didn’t validate students’ experiences.

“Them saying that they were essentially doing us a favor because they didn’t raise it as much as they would have otherwise sounds invalidating,” Cedillo-Arenas said.

She continued, “They know we would pay whatever they raised it to, and it doesn’t sound like they’re sorry for that. I guess good for them for trying to make light of a situation that only benefits them.” 

In addition to the tuition increase, students were also belatedly informed two weeks before the semester started that there would be a $50 price increase for parking permits—after many had already registered for them. 

Students were previously informed via email that prices would remain the same. 

The parking permit price increase took Claire Moloczyj, a senior commuter, by surprise. 

“I was very shocked about it, [the price increase], it’s kind of ridiculous,” Moloczyj said. “The parking isn’t great anyway, most days you can’t even get a spot in the lot and then you’re stuck. Or you’re parking so far away it’s not even worth paying the extra price.” 

Garcia provided a suggestion to EU in regards to the increased prices. 

“If they wanna keep raising the prices, the parking pass should be included in the cost of tuition,” Garcia said. 

Garcia also expressed concern for students who have a few more years of school to go. 

“I fear for the incoming freshmen,” Garcia said. “They have a long four years of these price increases ahead of them.”