UPEI tuition on the rise

The University of Prince Edward followed the province's colleges this week in announcing a tuition increase.

• P.E.I. colleges raise tuitions

Tuition will increase three per cent in the coming year. That comes to $170 a year for a student taking a full course load.

"A modest increase in tuition fees is necessary to help counteract our significant budget pressures," said UPEI president Alaa Abd-El-Aziz in a news release.

Abd-El-Aziz said even with the increase UPEI tuition has the second lowest undergraduate tuition in the Maritimes.

Student Union president Hammad Ahmad said the Student Union position has always been tuition increases should be no more than the increase in the consumer price index. The CPI rose 1.16 per cent on P.E.I. last year.

But Ahmad said he understood the university's position.

"We do realize that the increase has been kept to a minimum given the financial challenges that the university faces," he said.

The university's other main source of revenue, the operating grant from the province, was increased one per cent this year.

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