Columbia is raising tuition—and frustration for students—again. It’s hard to believe that it’s for our benefit.

As the Chronicle reported this week, tuition will increase 5% for continuing students and 10% for new students next fall. 

This means continuing students will pay an additional $1,614 per year, bringing their total to $33,886, while new students will pay $35,498 annually, a 10% increase over the 2024-25 figure.

Every semester, it feels like we’re paying more and getting less.

Budget cuts have hit administrative units and schools across campus, impacting everyone’s daily experience, including for the simplest of expectations like garbage removal from offices. It may seem minor, and perhaps it will save plastic liners from landfills as the college has tried to frame the loss of this basic service, but it’s a sign of how little Columbia prioritizes the daily needs of its community. We’re paying a lot each year for our education, yet classrooms and common spaces are becoming more neglected by the day.

It’s not just about cleanliness or maintenance. Student clubs and organizations, which are important parts of campus life, are also feeling the strain of budget cuts. These groups allow students to connect, grow and unwind outside of the classroom. The Renegades sports teams and clubs lost the use of the East-West University gym facilities, another decision that comes at the expense of students. How does the college expect us to stay engaged and proud when even our clubs are losing their spaces and funding?

One of the biggest losses for students was the in-person health clinic, which abruptly closed in August and was replaced with a telehealth service, as the Chronicle previously reported. 

Then there’s the issue with classes. Course sections are being cut, leaving students scrambling to find alternatives. If we can’t even access the classes we need, what’s the point of this extra tuition? 

Students also have been impacted by all of the layoffs. Registration started this week, and a smaller advising center was scrambling to keep up. Students complained about not finding appointments or waiting in Zoom rooms to see an advisor, only to be told that they’d have to come back, as the Chronicle reported on its Chronversations podcast.

The college administration argues that tuition hikes are necessary to cover rising costs to meet inflation, keep programs running and ensure competitive salaries to keep faculty. The college should definitely make all of that a priority. 

But we deserve to know where our money is going. This is about transparency, respect and investment in the students who keep this campus full of life. Instead of endless cost-cutting, it’s time to invest in the resources and spaces that matter to us. If the administration thinks these changes are making the college more “efficient” or sustainable, maybe it’s time they take a closer look around and actually speak to the students and faculty on the ground being affected by these changes. 

Students have not been part of the program revision discussions. While faculty may have the expertise and should be leading the major changes, it’s unfathomable that they’d do this without asking students for their perspective. 

So, where is this 5% increase going? Until we see real improvements, this tuition hike feels like students are paying more for less. Columbia owes its community more than another increase in costs. We need transparency, investment in the resources we depend on and a college that truly stands by the students who make this campus what it is.

Copy edited by Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez