Grand Rapids Community College trustees approved a 1.7 percent tuition increase for the 2023-2024 academic year, part of a continuing effort to keep higher education affordable and accessible for students of all ages from across West Michigan.
GRCC President Charles Lepper said the new tuition rate, approved unanimously by the board of trustees on Monday, reflects the focus on keeping a college education within reach at a time when many people in the community face financial challenges.
“A college education will change lives” Lepper said. “We tell our community members, ‘You belong at GRCC, and we will help you be successful.’ We want to keep our tuition as affordable as possible to help students of all ages get the education they want and need.”
The in-district tuition rate of $120 per contact hour is a 1.7 percent increase — $2 per contact hour — from the 2022-2023 rate. The total cost for most fulltime students will be $4,059.
The tuition change comes at a time when students also have several options to attend with education costs covered by state, local, and federal programs. One in five students attending during the Winter 2023 semester has tuition covered by grant or scholarship program.
Michigan Reconnect is available for residents ages 25 and older who have not yet earned a degree, and covers the cost of in-district tuition. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/reconnect.
The new Michigan Achievement Scholarship could provide future Grand Rapids Community College students with $2,750 a year to help cover the cost of tuition.
The college is proud to partner with the Grand Rapids Promise Zone this fall to provide a GRCC education without cost to graduates from 25 public, public charter and private high schools located within the city. Additional details are at grcc.edu/promisezone.
Students also may qualify for a federal Pell Grant, or for scholarships through the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/financialaid.
Michigan community colleges receive revenue largely from three sources: tuition and fees, local property taxes, and state aid.
“We don’t take approving tuition increases lightly,” said David Koetje, chairperson of the GRCC board of trustees. “Trustees recognize any increase in tuition can create a challenge for some students. But the college crafted a responsible financial plan, considering the rising costs we all are facing and some of the structural challenges in the way colleges are funded. We think this is a plan that allows us to continue delivering a high-quality education while keeping the cost to students as low as possible.”
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