Rasmussen College Lowers and Locks Tuition to Make College More Affordable for Students

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (January 15, 2013) – Rasmussen College, a leader in post-secondary higher education, announced today a tuition reduction that will save students thousands of dollars and help decrease student debt upon graduation. In an effort to continuously provide students with the best college investment possible, Rasmussen College is lowering tuition costs an average of 12 percent nationally for full-time students. Depending on each student’s location and program, this reduction can be up to 24 percent. The regionally accredited College has not increased tuition since 2010.

“Our focus has always been and will remain on making every student’s higher education experience a successful investment,” said Rasmussen College President Kristi Waite. “At Rasmussen College, we help every student achieve the success they want – both in their courses and in their careers – and now we’re making that success an even better investment for our students.”

Rasmussen College is also locking in tuition rates for students who are continuously enrolled. The guarantee of a consistent cost per credit will help students understand and plan for the total cost of their degrees. It is also an incentive for students to stay continuously enrolled, a critical element in on-time graduation, which also helps minimize education debt. The new tuition structure was developed to help students maximize the value of their academic investment and was made possible through reductions in the College’s overall operating expenses.

“Over the past several years, we have been focused on meeting the market’s demand for more affordable higher education opportunities, and worked on developing solutions to meet this need,” said Trenda Boyum-Breen, Chief Academic Officer at Rasmussen College. “This is not a one-time solution. We will continue to look for ways to reduce our non-academic related expenses with the hope of providing further cost-savings to our students.”

Recent reports indicate that public education institutions have increased tuition by 42 percent over the last 11 years. Meanwhile, Rasmussen College has been going against this common trend and making changes to help benefit students and reduce long-term student debt. In 2010, Rasmussen College proactively lowered the credit cost of its bachelor’s degree programs by up to 26 percent, and implemented a tuition freeze that eliminated future tuition hikes. In 2011, the College reduced the costs of its Medical Assisting programs by 26 percent, and quickly followed with an 11 percent tuition reduction in its Medical Administration program in early 2012. The College also reduced tuition in Early Childhood Education programs and introduced the competitively-priced AcceleratED Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program at $260 per credit.

“We are focused on ensuring that our students receive a high quality education that’s affordable, and that will provide them with the foundation they need to have a successful career. This is the value that students will receive at Rasmussen College,” said Waite. “With the growing student debt crisis, it is our responsibility as an educational institution to make certain that we are constantly reviewing and analyzing the impact that tuition has on future financial stability. We owe that to our students.”

This past fall, Rasmussen College announced plans to open two new campuses in Topeka and Overland Park, Kansas. Both locations are scheduled to begin classes in spring 2013.

To learn more about the Rasmussen College tuition reduction, student support services, and career placement go to www.Rasmussen.edu/FACT.