The Louisiana Legislature has approved a three-year, phased-in tuition increase for the LSU Law Center, effective Fall 2008. HB 1145 has been sent to the governor for signature.
“We are never happy to increase tuition. Nevertheless, the Law Center is and will remain an excellent value to its students,” said Chancellor Jack Weiss while commenting on the tuition bill.
Louisiana residents’ tuition will increase by $1,000 per year over the next three academic years. The nonresident fee will increase by a like amount. Resident tuition for the Fall 2008 entering class will increase from $10,722 to $11,722; for nonresidents, tuition and the nonresident fee will increase from a total of $19,818 to $21,818. For 2008 entering students, the costs will remain steady throughout their time at the Law Center. These figures do not include additional miscellaneous fees totaling approximately $1,460.
“Even after the increase, we will remain below the average of our peer schools and far below the amounts charged by others,” said Weiss.
This is the first time the Law Center has asked the Legislature for a tuition increase since 2002. The additional revenue generated by the increase will be used to enhance the Law Center’s competitiveness with regional and national peer schools. The funds will support the new, expanded Clinical Legal Education Program and also provide more merit scholarships to attract top students to the Law Center.
