LIVINGSTON | Tuition rates will remain unchanged for the University of West Alabama this fall as part of an operating budget approved by the board of trustees on Monday.

There were two major factors in the decision to keep tuition flat, UWA President Ken Tucker said.

Tucker said an increase could negatively impact enrollment, and leaving rates unchanged would help ease the burden on first-generation college students, which are a significant demographic group in UWA’s enrollment.

“It will help us maintain our competitive positon because other universities this cycle are recommend freezing tuition,” Tucker said. “Although, we have been recognized as being the best value for a university in the state, the margin is really thin.”

The University of Alabama System, which is scheduled to meet at the end of the week, announced in April plans to leave tuition rates for in-state students unchanged for the fall.

The UWA trustees approved roughly a 1 percent tuition rate increase last year. The annual tuition rate for on-campus, in-state students would remain roughly $8,450 in the fall. Out-of-state students on campus pay about $16,900.

“But the other thing, and perhaps the most important, the vast majority of our students are first-generation college students and they struggle,” Tucker said. “Our goal is to keep our tuition as low as possible to help attract those students.”

Positive revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal year allowed the university to keep tuition flat, Tucker said.

The tuition rate was part of the fiscal year 2020 operating budget. The $61.6 million budget represents an increase of $4.2 million from the current operating budget.

Revenues are projected to grow by $4.3 million. Revenues are projected to exceed expenses by $233,816, Vice President of Finance Affairs Lawson Edmonds said.

The budget saw nominal changes in expenses for salaries and costs such as benefits and insurance. The budget estimates salaries at $26.1 million and fixed expenses at $12.8 million.

The greatest growth came in operating expenses that include student services, scholarships, research and maintenance. The operating expenses are budgeted to increase by about $4 million to $22.7 million.

UWA also saw its appropriation in the state’s education budget increase $1.4 million, Tucker said.

Revenues from the university’s online programs are also expected to increase, Edmonds said. The budget projects revenues will be roughly $29.5 million, an increase of $4 million.

Tucker said enrollment in online programs increased by about 546 students compared to last year.

“It has exceeded our expectations and put us in a healthier position than we have been in a long time,” Tucker said.

The budget again did not include raises for staff and faculty, other than increases for promotions, longevity, or increased credentials.

Board President Jerry Smith said he would like to see the university consider increases for faculty and staff next year.

“I think we should be looking at that and thinking about that,” Smith said.

Tucker said the university planned to considered increases in the future.

“Our goal is to do exactly that,” Tucker said.