Dartmouth College is following the footsteps of Eastern Iowa colleges and other prominent universities by hiking its tuition by 3.8 percent next year.
This hike approved by the college's board of trustees represents the smallest raise in more than a decade since 2001-02.
The increase in tuition applies to undergraduate, graduate and Thayer School of Engineering students.
For undergraduate programs, the students will be paying $45,445 in tuition, which is $1,664, more than what students are paying this year. The total tuition, for next academic year, including room, board and mandatory fees, is coming up to $60,201.
In the academic year 2001-02, when the college hiked the fees by 3.8 percent, the students had to pay around $34, 458, which is approximately half of the proposed hike in total tuition.
The academic year 2011-2012 saw the highest rise when the college augmented its tuition by 5.9 percent.
"Cost is a huge concern to the Board, and they're certainly cognizant of it," media relations director Justin Anderson, said. "I think that that's why there is such a commitment to providing funds for scholarship awards and financial aid."
In order to compensate for the hike, the college has increased its scholarships by more than 50 percent since 2007 and provides 100 percent financial aid to students whose family income is less than $100,000 per year.
Comparing with other colleges' proposed tuition for next year:
Brown University's tuition for academic year 2013-14 is $44,608 and along with its room, board and fees, the students will be paying around $57,232 next year.
Princeton University students will be paying $40,170 in tuition and together with room and board and fees, it will cost around $56,750.
On the other hand, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth has boosted its tuition by 5.5 percent to $53,432, and students at Tuck School of Business will experience a 4.9 percent increase to $58,935 for 2013-14 academic year.
