The Linn-Benton Community College Board of Education voted Monday, June 26, to reduce the 2023-24 tuition increase from 6%, as proposed earlier this year, to 5%.
“Ensuring that hard-working students can obtain higher education while affording basic needs is a high priority for the Board of Education at LBCC,” LBCC Board of Education Chair Kristin Adams said. “We are pleased that we could reduce the tuition increase in order to support that priority. Education is a ticket out of poverty, but if we do not safeguard its affordability, we are not serving the purpose of our mission. We will continue to collectively advocate for stabilized funding from the legislature so that student success is at the forefront and not student debt.”
The board was able to reduce the increase after both chambers of the Oregon Legislature approved House Bill 5025 only a few days earlier to fund the Community College Support Fund, which will receive $800 million for the 2023-25 biennium, an increase of $97 million over what was allocated in 2021-23.
“I am so glad our Board of Education lowered the approved tuition increase for the coming academic year,” LBCC President Lisa Avery said. “Keeping college affordable is key to LBCC’s mission of providing excellent education at a great value. I look forward to welcoming students in September and watching them succeed at LBCC and get good jobs in our community.”