SIU’s Board of Trustees voted to increase tuition rates for Carbondale students for the upcoming academic year, marking the first adjustment in nearly a decade.

University leadership framed the increase as a necessary step to maintain operations while keeping costs relatively low compared to peer institutions. 

“Carbondale is requesting a 2% increase in tuition rates for undergraduate and graduate students for the academic year, 2026-2027,” Chancellor Austin Lane said during the board’s April 16 meeting at SIUC. “This would mark the first tuition adjustment for undergraduate and graduate students after eight consecutive years at the current per-credit-hour rate.”

The Board of Trustees approved the tuition increase with a unanimous vote. Under the new rates, incoming freshmen will pay $4,916.25 per semester, compared to the previous $4,818.75 rate. This amounts to an increase of $195 annually. The current rate will remain in place for students currently enrolled in the university.

Lane said the increase is intended to balance affordability with the university’s financial needs. 

“SIU Carbondale holds its long-standing tradition of accessible education for students across the state, the nation and the world, while continuing efforts to minimize barriers to degree completion,” Lane said.

The proposed adjustment is meant to help offset increasing operational expenses while maintaining student support services and academic quality, he said.

“This modest proposed increase helps to sustain essential resources, support for faculty and staff and maintain program quality amid rising operational cost, while keeping SIUC among the more affordable options in its peer group,” he said.

According to Lane, student leaders were involved in discussions leading up to the proposal. 

“As a result of that, both the executive and full bodies of the Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate and Professional Student Council were engaged across several meetings to discuss this increase,” he said. “The students were receptive and understood how the increases would be allocated to support the university.”

In addition to tuition, administrators discussed a proposed increase to the general student fee to support athletics. 

“We met with these same bodies of students to discuss the increase in the general fee that would be allocated to support SIU athletics. Athletics intends to use these resources to improve its media operations and provide more opportunities for undergraduate and graduate employment,” Lane said.

The university proposed a $1.50 increase to the General Student Fee for on-campus students, raising it from $130.00 to $131.50. According to the proposal, the additional revenue will go toward supporting intercollegiate athletics. The General Student Fee for off-campus students will remain at $80, and the optional textbook program fee will stay at $26.

As reported in NCAA Membership Financial Reporting System documents, SIU athletics has seen student fee revenue increase by $330,325 over the past six years, rising from $5,386,926 in FY 2020 to $5,717,251 in FY 2025.

Revenue from these fees peaked in FY 2021 at $5,783,714, then fell to a low of $5,477,846 in FY 2022 before continuing an upward trend through FY 2025, when it reached $5,717,251.

With that trend and the approved student fee increase, the total revenue generated from these fees is expected to increase in the coming year, according to the proposal.

There will be no changes to housing rates, and dining hall plans will remain at current prices. Beginning in summer 2026, however, students will have the option to add flex dollars to their dining plans, which can be used at all food locations managed by the Student Center.

In addition to tuition and general fees, the board also reviewed and approved course-specific fees tied to certain programs. These fees, effective summer 2026, are intended to cover hands-on learning costs such as travel, equipment and program operations.

Within the School of Human Sciences, REC 531, Outdoor Adventure Trip Leadership, will carry a $450 course fee to support expenses related to a multi-day trip, including transportation, equipment and supplies.

In the School of Anthropology, Political Science and Sociology, ANTH 496, Field School in Archaeology, will see its course fee increase from $50 to $600, to help cover fieldwork-related costs such as travel and equipment.

The board also approved fee increases for aviation courses, with officials citing the need to maintain aircraft, support operations and build reserves for future program needs.

Lane said the university remains focused on providing a high-quality education as a Research 1 institution, offering a range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs while aiming to deliver strong value for students.

SIU System President Dan Mahony echoed those points in an email sent to SIU staff and faculty, describing the decision as a balance between “affordability and long-term sustainability.”

“At SIU Carbondale, a modest tuition increase of 2% will support continued investment in academic quality, student services and the overall strength of the institution,” Mahony wrote in the email. “This is SIU Carbondale’s first tuition increase since 2018.”

Mahony also addressed decisions at the system’s Edwardsville campus for the upcoming school year. 

“At SIU Edwardsville, undergraduate tuition and fees will remain unchanged, reinforcing a strong commitment to accessibility and value for students and families. The board did approve a 3% increase for dining and a 3% increase for housing to support facility updates,” he wrote.

While undergraduate tuition will stay the same at SIU Edwardsville, the approved increases to housing and dining are intended to support ongoing maintenance and improvements to campus facilities, according to board discussions.

“Together, these decisions reflect our shared responsibility to ensure that an SIU education remains both high-quality and within reach, while positioning our campuses for continued momentum in the years ahead,” Mahony wrote.

The approved changes reflect what university leaders described as an effort to maintain affordability while continuing to invest in campus resources and student opportunities.

For a more detailed breakdown of tuition and fees, including costs specific to individual colleges and programs, see pages 50–57 of the Board of Trustees meeting agenda materials available online on the SIU Board of Trustees website.

For a more detailed breakdown of tuition and fees, including costs specific to individual colleges and programs, see pages 50–57 of the Board of Trustees meeting agenda materials.

Staff Reporter Annalise Schmidt can be reached at [email protected]

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