Northeast Community College will increase its cost of attendance for the 2025-26 school year.

— Tuition per credit hour for Nebraska and border state residents would rise by $2, bringing the cost to $110. Tuition per credit hour would also increase to $151, or $2, for other students.

— The technology fee will be set at $7, a $1 increase. This fee helps support the technology resources available to students.

— Housing and meal plan rates will increase from $4,570 to $4,707, a 3% uptick.

The decision comes as the college navigates significant shifts over its future finances. In 2023, legislation redirected community college funding from property taxes to the state's Community College Future Fund, raising concerns among Northeast's board about the state's ability to uphold its funding commitments.

College officials said the increases will help offset projected shortfalls in tuition and fee revenue, which are expected due to declines in credit hours for non-dual credit students.

“Our tuition fees are among the highest (of five) community colleges in Nebraska,” said Scott Gray, vice president of administrative services and general counsel. “We can’t hide from that, but at the same time, I think we want to maintain the quality we certainly have now.”

The community colleges Gray was referring to are Central, Mid-Plains, Western Nebraska, Metropolitan and Southeast.

During discussions, board members defended the fee increases, arguing that they were necessary to ensure Northeast’s future fiscal health.

Board member Terry Nelson of West Point argued that small, gradual increases to fees and tuition are preferable to large hikes, like those the college implemented about five years ago.

Chairperson Jeff Scherer of Beemer pointed out that while inflation has driven up the cost of most goods and services, the fee increases for the 2025-26 school year remain relatively low in comparison. He noted that the college had not raised fees in at least two years but is now compelled to do so due to uncertainties surrounding funding.

“If we know we’re not going to get it from Lincoln, now it’s game on,” Scherer said. “We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”

In conversations with absent board members Dirk Petersen, Julie Robinson and Nicole Sedlacek, Scherer said they also supported the fee increases. (Petersen appeared through video-conferencing for most of Thursday’s meeting but left before the discussions on tuition and fees took place).

“My response to (Petersen) was, ‘Well, let’s look at the options. We’re obviously due for some type of an increase, but I don’t want to lose sight of the fourth pillar (affordability),’ ” Scherer said.

Northeast president Leah Barrett said the college’s new rates would be in line with what community colleges in neighboring states charge their students.

She also explained that while other community colleges in Nebraska are “growing significantly,” they have seen major declines over the past decade, so any increase for them is substantial. She said the state's funding mechanism for colleges, the Community College Future Fund, provides additional funding if enrollment growth exceeds 3.5%.

“We are steady Eddie,” Barrett said. “We’ve been steady Eddie for 10 years… It’s created stability for us.”

Board member Pat Wojcik of South Sioux City asked whether a $90 increase would be enough to discourage students from enrolling at Northeast. In response, college officials said larger increases, typically between $600 and $800, are more likely to deter students.

Regarding housing and meal plan pricing, Gray, Northeast’s general counsel, told board members that the college has not raised these rates in years despite inflation increasing food prices.

In a document suggesting new rates, the college explained that increases in housing and meal plans are necessary to sustain funding for upcoming maintenance, as well as equipment needs in the residence halls and cafeteria.