Rasmussen College Announces No Tuition Increase for 2012; Lowers Pricing for Select Programs

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasmussen College, a regionally-accredited postsecondary institution, announced today it will not be raising tuition costs for the 2012 academic school year. In fact, the College has reduced tuition costs for key programs such as its Medical Assisting degree offerings and its online, accelerated Bachelor's degree completer program. This stabilization and reduction in tuition goes against the rising trend in tuition increases reported for 2012.

"We are committed to ensuring that our students receive a strong return on their academic investment, and with the growing concern around student debt, it is our responsibility as an educational institution to ensure that we are constantly reviewing and analyzing the impact that tuition has on future financial stability," said Rasmussen College Chief Executive Officer Tom Slagle. "As Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education stated, we need to 'start thinking more creatively – and with much greater urgency' in order to make an impact. This is our first step in doing just that."

According to the College Board's Trends in College Pricing 2011 report, in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions are averaging 8.3 percent higher in 2011-2012 than they did in 2010-2011. Tuition and fees at public, two-year colleges averaged 8.7 percent higher in this same timeframe. However, while an 8.3 percent increase was the average amongst public four-year colleges and universities, 20 percent of full-time students attend institutions that increased their tuition prices by 12 percent or more.

"Thinking creatively about tuition cost and price structuring goes beyond price stabilization," Slagle said. "It is also a challenge to colleges and universities to rethink their programmatic offerings, how credits are priced per program, how credits are transferred into an institution and how courses are being delivered."

Current Rasmussen College students who maintain four courses per quarter through their entire program will not be subject to tuition increases through graduation.

Earlier this year, Rasmussen College proactively lowered the credit cost of its Medical Assisting Associate's degree program to $310 per quarter credit to provide a more affordable option to this growing field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 50 percent of Medical Assistants have a starting salary of $28,650, and the field continues to grow.

In October, Rasmussen College announced the launch of its new online, accelerated Bachelor Completer program designed specifically to help adult students complete their Bachelor's degree in order to advance their career. The new fully online program offers a seamless credit transfer process, including credit for prior learning experience, and accelerated course completion that enables students to finish their degree in as little as 18 months. Tuition is priced affordably at $260 per quarter credit, allowing many individuals that have completed 60 credit hours or more of post-secondary education, to efficiently and affordably earn their bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Slagle concluded, "Even with the launch of new, affordable programs and reductions in some of our current offerings, at the end of the day, we are delighted to provide our current students with no price increases, especially in these difficult economic times. It might not be much – but it plays a big role in their lives."

For more information on Rasmussen College, visit www.Rasmussen.edu.

To view this release in full, visit http://www.rasmussen.edu/press-release/2011-12-07/rasmussen-college-announces-no-tuition-increase-for-2012-lowering-prices/

ABOUT RASMUSSEN COLLEGE

An innovator of higher education, Rasmussen College is a regionally-accredited, private college that specializes in offering the most in-demand degree programs in a highly supportive, student-centered educational environment.  Rasmussen College offers market-relevant programs from the certificate and diploma level through the associate's and bachelor's level online and across its 22 campuses in the Midwest and Florida to more than 15,000 students. By combining its expertise in career development with high academic standards and with unparalleled student support services, graduates of Rasmussen College leave with the most up-to-date knowledge, the skills that employers look for, and the tools to succeed in their chosen field.  Since 1900, the primary focus at Rasmussen College has remained constant: student achievement is of the utmost importance, the employer who hires its students continues to be a valued partner, and Rasmussen College is dedicated to being a primary contributor to the growth and development of the communities it serves. For more information about Rasmussen College, please visit www.Rasmussen.edu.

SOURCE Rasmussen College