Thursday, May 08, 2008 5 colleges increase tuition By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
FIVE major universities and colleges in Bacolod City have increased their tuition and other school fees for the coming first semester while four others opted to retain their previous rates.
The Commission on Higher Education (Ched) approves the increase as long as it would not exceed by 10 percent from the previous rates.
Upgrading of learning facilities and the increase on teachers' compensations are two main reasons for tuition increases in Bacolod.
Those who increased their tuition and other fees are the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), University of St. La Salle-Bacolod (USLS-B), Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B), John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (JBLFC), and VMA Global College.
But there's no tuition hike in La Consolacion College (LCC), AMA Computer University, West Negros University (WNU), and AMA Computer Learning Center.
In a random check made by Sun.Star Bacolod on Wednesday, UNO-R's rate is P475.77, inclusive of the P35.77 or about a 10 percent increase than the previous rate of P445 per unit. It also charges enrolling students P1,500, payable upon enrollment.
At USLS-B, enrollees should first pay the enrollment fee of P7,000 for category A, P5,400 for category B, and P5,800 for category C.
As to the rate per unit, USLS-B has increased it by about five percent, making the category A rate already P706.95 from the previous P673.30 only. For category B, it's now P550 from the previous P524.45 per unit and P468.70 from P446.55 for category C.
CSA-B, on the other hand, hiked its tuition by seven percent, making its present rate at P483.48 from P451.85 per unit. An amount of P1,955 is also payable upon enrollment at CSA-B.
At JBLCF, students will now pay P421.30 from the previous rate of P383 per unit. Payable enrollment amount is P3,500.
At VMA Global College, one would only pay P1,000 upon enrollment but is also burdened by about five percent tuition hike of P352.77 per unit from the previous P320.69 only.
For its part, WNU maintained its P402.10 per unit with a minimum of P1,000 payable upon enrollment. According to its assessment office, however, tuition and other school fees are subject to any adjustment at the start of the first semester, depending on circumstances that could arise.
LCC also retained its P500 per unit rate and P1,500 enrollment fee.
AMA Computer University also maintained its P1,000 payable enrollment rate and the P14,000 to P16,000 rate for its four-year computer courses per semester.
Its school-affiliate, AMA Computer Learning Center (ACLC), will not also increase its tuition.
Ma. Clara Librando, owner/directress of the school, said they would only maintain their P220 per unit rate and the P500 payable upon enrollment.
ACLC, Librando said, offers four major computer courses for two years only. These are the Programming NC IV, Computer Hardware Servicing NC III, Bookkeeping NC III, and PC Operations NC II.
