Brookdale Plans to Decrease Tuition by 2.53%

Pending a hearing later this month, Brookdale students could see their tuition bills go down this summer.

 officials voted last night to approve the college's proposed 2013 budget, which includes a 2.53 percent decrease in tuition rates, effective July 1, 2012, according to a press release issued by the college.

"In developing the budget for fiscal year 2013, we focused on one overarching principle - access and affordability for our students. The continuing economic crises and its influence on state and local resources have impacted all of us - including our students and their parents," said Dr. William Toms, interim president of Brookdale, in the release.

The $3 per credit reduction in tuition will lower the rate from $118.50 to $115.50 per credit hour, to a maximum of $1,732 per semester. General service fees, which are 24 percent of the tuition rate, will decrease to $27.72 per credit hour. Students will see the cost savings starting with the Summer III Term, which begins July 9.

"We are pleased with the changes employed by Dr. Toms and his executive leadership team that have resulted in increased productivity and reduced costs," said Josh Elkes, chair of the Brookdale Board of Trustees, in the release. "The installation of new energy efficient equipment in the utility plant, for example, resulted in a $1.4 million cost savings for the college.  In the aggregate, savings like these impact the bottom line and, for the next fiscal year, have provided an opportunity to make the quality education available at Brookdale even more affordable," 

The $95,706,289 operating budget consists of 51 percent in tuition and fees, 22.4 percent anticipated county support, 11.2 percent anticipated state support and 15.4 percent from other sources and will be presented at the Monmouth County Board of School Estimate (BOSE) hearing, scheduled for Feb. 23, for approval. The BOSE committee consists of three members of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and two members of Brookdale's Board of Trustees.