For the first time, the cost of attending Le Moyne will exceed $50,000. For the 2018-2019 school year, the total cost to attend Le Moyne will be $51,100. This year, it’s $49,995. This includes, tuition, average fees, room, board, and personal expenses. Le Moyne students will pay $1,105 more next year to take classes and live on campus.According to a previous story written that appeared in last year’s Dolphin, Le Moyne’s tuition rose 50 percent from 2006 to 2016.

Tuition is increasing because “Le Moyne offers a quality education in the Jesuit liberal arts tradition, but that experience is not inexpensive to maintain and improve-upon,” said director of communications, Joe Della Posta. “Tuition dollars go to all aspects of the Le Moyne experience.”

This includes “faculty and administrators, maintaining academic buildings, residence halls, athletic facilities, and common areas, and the cost of ongoing services such as electric and gas,” he said.

For example, from 2011 to 2015, room and board increased by $741,521 and facility maintenance increased by $203,714, according to the college’s 990 forms . These forms evaluate the college’s nonprofit operations.

Della Posta believes that this tuition increase will not affect enrollment. Le Moyne is a well- known school and many people would rather pay to come to this private school than going to a SUNY school. The school offers financial aid to 95 percent of their students. This is close to $40 million, according to the Le Moyne website.

“This past year the College committed more than $42 million in aid for students. In addition, this fall we introduced Promise NY, which includes an automatic scholarship of $10,000 over four years for full-time, incoming first- year students” said Della Posta.  He said this is one of top need-based scholarships at the college.

Danielle Lonczak, a freshman said, “this increase may affect me in the long run, but I am still glad I chose to come to Le Moyne despite the cost.”

If tuition keeps increasing by $1,000 or more each year, that is an extra $4,000 that students will have to pay over their four years.

“Le Moyne has great faculty and staff that truly care about their students.” Lonczak said. “Le Moyne offers great programs that set us aside from other colleges.”

Colleen Murphy, a sophomore said, “Le Moyne is worth what we pay.” She believes what sets Le Moyne aside from other schools is its “good representation and name” and believes that students leave Le Moyne prepared.