Rockhurst University students opened their inboxes March 26 to find news that is becoming all too familiar: tuition, housing and meal plan rates are going up again for the upcoming academic year.
In an email to the campus community, the university announced that the Board of Trustees has approved a 3% increase in undergraduate tuition for 2025-2026. That equates to an added $1,285 per semester for full-time students. Part-time students will pay $21 more per credit hour, totaling $744 per hour. Graduate tuition is expected to increase by up to 2.5%, depending on the program.
Housing costs will rise by an average of 2.4%, with annual prices ranging from $6,175 for double occupancy rooms to $9,525 for apartment-style Rock Row units. Meal plans will increase by 4%, ranging from $1,240 to $5,290 per year.
To help ease textbook costs, Rockhurst is launching a new partnership called RU Ready, offering a flat-rate fee for course materials. This will be $370 per semester for full-time students and $24 per credit hour for part-time students. Students will have the option to opt out.
According to Dane Fuhrman, vice president of finance and administration, the tuition increase is essential to maintain operations across the university, from paying faculty and staff to supporting student services, athletics and campus safety.
“Each academic year, the Board of Trustees reviews, provides feedback on and approves the Cabinet’s proposed tuition rates for the subsequent academic year,” said Fuhrman. “Multiple scenarios are considered each year, and available information about the price of other private schools in the region is considered.”
The Board approved the new rates in December 2024.
While increases in tuition have become an annual occurrence — the university also raised costs in 2023 and 2024 — many students are growing frustrated.
“It’s frustrating to see tuition go up again – we’re already working hard to afford college, and increases like this make it feel even more out of reach,” said sophomore Piper McGuire.
Junior Rewa Vangala, vice president of finance for the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority at Rockhurst, echoed the sentiment.
“I personally feel it’s unfair to make decisions about tuition without considering the student perspective,” said Vangala.
Fuhrman cited rising inflation and national trends in higher education as key drivers of the increase.
“In many cases, inflation has outpaced tuition increases at Rockhurst in recent years. The university actively stewards resources to optimize efficiencies where possible to help us achieve our Mission and minimize the impact of inflation and similar pressures,” said Fuhrman.
While these increases mirror national trends in higher education, they have also sparked concern and conversation among students and others at Rockhurst as they navigate the future of their academic careers.
