DeKALB | Starting this fall, only some students will have to pay $270 more per semester in tuition to attend NIU.

That is because the Truth-in-Tuition policy guarantees a fixed tuition rate for current students.

At a June 9 meeting, the NIU Board of Trustees approved a motion to increase tuition by 6.8 percent for incoming students.

NIU President John Peters said this increase will only affect 28 percent of the student body.

“Seventy-two percent of NIU’s students are considered continuing and will not see their tuition increase one penny,” Peters said. “Currently, NIU guarantees tuition rates for up to nine consecutive semesters and then makes a slight adjustment extending similar tuition rates for another two years to all students.”

“With the new Truth-in-Tuition regulations, tuition rates are virtually guaranteed for six years, which makes this recommended tuition increase approximately 1.1 percent per year,” Peters said.

Brad Hoey, team leader for Media Relations and Internal Communications, explained the Truth-in-Tuition policy as a fixed tuition rate.

“If you are an eligible student and you enroll for the first time at NIU, the tuition rate you are charged in your first fall or spring semester will be the tuition rate for four continuous years,” Hoey said.

Hoey said this policy has been in effect at NIU since 2004.

“Public Act 93-0228 is known as Truth-In-Tuition in the state of Illinois,” Hoey said. “It was established by the state legislature in 2004. The policy went into effect at NIU starting in the fall semester of 2004.”

Hoey said other state universities have policies similar to Truth-in-Tuition.

“Truth-In-Tuition is a state law in Illinois,” he said. “All state-supported colleges and universities in Illinois are required to adhere to this policy.”

Freshman nursing major Kelly Martin likes the Truth-in-Tuition policy.

“I like this policy because then I am only paying the same amount for the next four years of college instead of having the tuition increase each year,” Martin said.