Western did not increase tuition for next year, but Western did increase student activity fees. For a student taking 15 hours that's $113 a semester, an increase of 22.5%. Western's tuition and fees will be $3,322 a semester next year. That's $567 a semester more than Eastern and only $42 a semester less than New Mexico State. Western's tuition wasn't always this high in the 2012-13 year Western's tuition and fees were $18 a semester less than Eastern.

For cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing and meals) if a Western student stays in Mustang Village cost of attendance will be at least $8,370 a semester the highest in the state, $777 a semester more than New Mexico State and $1,742 a semester more than Eastern. Why would any student come to Western when they can go to Eastern and save $14,000 over the course of 4 years? If I remember my Econ 101 correctly, as the price of a good or service rises the demand for that good or service goes down. That might be why Western's undergraduate enrollment is down over 20% this year.

The high cost of tuition and fees at Western cause the Lotter Scholarship students at Western to pay the highest tuition and fees in the state at $1,679 a semester. The next highest is Eastern at $1,111, the lowest is NNMC at $720. A Lottery Scholarship student at NMSU pays only $899, $780 a semester less than Western.

Why does Western, an undistinguished little liberal arts university, cost so much?

About 25% of Western's graduates are certificates and associate degrees. Most certificates and associates are awarded by two year colleges. New Mexico has 19 two years colleges; branch campuses and community colleges. None of them are in Southwest New Mexico. The closest is in Las Cruces. Tuition and fees at 2 year schools is typically less than $1,000 a semester. The problems for associate students at Western is Western is a comprehensive university and the associate students need to pay the tuition of the University, $3,322 a semester. For example a nursing student at UNM-Gallup will pay $966 a semester. The student will pay a total of $3,864 for the 2 year program. A nursing student at Western will pay $13,288, nearly $10,000 more, for the same degree.

The high cost of attending Western and the lack of a way for associate students to pay the same cost, about $1,000 a semester, as two year college students, is a liability when it comes to economic development in southwest New Mexico.

Alfred Milligan

Silver City, NM 88062