Kilgore College won’t raise tuition, fees next year

Published 6:00 am Thursday, February 25, 2021

KILGORE — Kilgore College trustees announced at Tuesday’s board meeting that tuition and fees will not increase for the 2021-22 school year as a response to financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Larry Woodfin, chair of the Investment/Finance/Audit Committee, also noted other costs associated with attending Kilgore College have fluctuated, some rising and some falling, as a result of the pandemic.

“Some consumables have gone up, and you will see that some have decreased based on recommendations from instructional department heads and deans and prices charged by vendors,” he told board members. “Residential student fees (for room and board) have seen a $60 reduction in the board rate reflecting the college’s return on a regular operating contract with Aramark.”

All trustees voted to keep tuition and fees steady.

Trustees voted in 2019, as well as 2015 and 2016, to increase tuition. Those decisions were partially inspired by a decline in student enrollment. However, the college saw a slight rebound in enrollment in fall 2019, and the campus is steadily working to increase its offerings of classes and certification programs.

At Tuesday’s meeting, trustee and department heads discussed plans to bring CDL certification and testing onto the campus as well as plans to begin offering junior-and senior-level college courses in the near future.

According to the college, tuition and fees for the 2020-21 school year are:

In-district students (per semester): tuition, $53 per semester hour; general education fee, $37 per semester hour; total, $90 per semester hour.

Out-of-district student (per semester): Tuition, $53 per semester hour; out-of-district fee, $79 per semester hour.

General education fee: $37 per semester hour; total, $169 per semester hour.

Non-resident (out-of-state and international) student (per semester): Tuition, $103 per semester hour; out-of-district fee, $79 per semester hour; general education fee, $37 per semester hour; total, $219 per semester hour.