February 19, 2009
On January 23, the Cedarville University Board of Trustees approved the University's operating budget and costs for the 2009-2010 academic year. Careful financial management and generous donors enable us to offer the high-quality education that families expect from Cedarville at a cost well below that of comparable private institutions.
The 2009-2010 tuition, room, and board rates represent a modest increase that is in line with previous years. However, the distribution of this increase is most significant. Just 35% of the planned increase will fund required operational increases; the remainder is being invested back to students through increased scholarships and grants. Cedarville's resources to fund scholarships and grants have increased by more than 100% in just five years. And, we are not finished.
To make this possible for 2009-2010, we've had to make tough "family decisions," like freezing faculty and staff salaries and delaying some planned facility improvements. Like you, we are carefully reviewing all expenditures and budgeting conservatively. Although we understand that the primary responsibility for covering college costs rests with families, financial aid for our students is a top priority!
Even in these difficult times, we have much to be thankful for! The Center for Biblical and Theological Studies funding campaign was completed successfully. We will welcome our first (and full) class of students into the new pharmacy program this fall. And Cedarville's top rankings on the recent Noel-Levitz student satisfaction inventory again affirmed the quality and value of the Cedarville experience.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to equip your student for lifelong leadership and service through an education marked by excellence and grounded in biblical truth.