College of DuPage’s board of trustees voted to hold tuition at $140 per credit hour for the fall 2015 term.

In September, the board voted to reduce tuition from $144 to $140 for district 502 students. The move was the first time, the college had reduced tuition for the spring term. Also, it will be the first time, the college has frozen tuition for an entire fiscal year.

Board Chair Erin Birt was happy to keep tuition steady during a turbulent time in the cost of higher education.

“We are in a unique position to keep our tuition reasonable and open up higher education to many students who might otherwise be unable to attend college due to escalating costs,” Birt said in a news release. “By maintaining our fiscal health and ensuring our programs are relevant to today’s job market, we keep our focus where it belongs – on student success.”

With the recent news that Gov. Bruce Rauner will cut almost $387 million in higher education funding, President Breuder acknowledged that COD must plan ahead as much as possible.

“Sound fiscal management and operating this institution like a business these past six years has made this decision to freeze fiscal year 2016 tuition possible,” Dr. Breuder said in a news release.