Over the past 10 years, tuition has steadily increased by about 52 percent. The numbers, according to the Connecticut Post, have jumped from $7,178 in the 2008-09 year to $10,938 this year. If this continues, tuition could top off at $16,625.76 by 2029. Not only is that unaffordable, but it’s also outrageous.

For the four Connecticut state universities and Charter Oak College, that track seems inevitable. Just last week, the Board of Regents voted to raise tuition for the five colleges by 5 percent.

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities President Mark Ojakian called the raise a “last resort,” but a “reasonable” one. And even with the increase, the state system will still have a budget shortfall of about $20 million.

The budget may be suffering, but so are the students; and for some, adding on that extra $546.90 a year could be a burden too heavy to carry.

Fortunately for Central Connecticut students, President Dr. Zulma Toro said she will work with the university’s vice president for Institutional Advancement and the CCSU Foundation to “explore the possibility of providing more scholarship dollars next semester and beyond.”

Those scholarship dollars are already essential to some students, and providing more could help ease the minds of many. Dr. Toro said that after talking with so many students, she understands the added burden is going to be “painful” for some.

For those students who are paying their own way through college, the financial burden of tuition was already becoming too much to handle. They are already forced to rely on financial aid and student loans, something that could keep them in debt years after they graduate from CCSU.

Many students that live in Connecticut choose to go to a state school due to proximity, convenience and perhaps most importantly, affordability. Should that last aspect evaporate, it could deter students from attending in favor of a cheaper alternative like Community College. With increased enrollment being a priority at Central, losing affordability to stunt that growth.

Aside from the increase in tuition, room and board is also increasing by 2.5 percent. For those living in a standard residence hall, with the exception of Mid-Campus, James and Vance single rooms, typically pay $3,587.00.

For those living out of state, it would be incredibly difficult to attend Central without living on campus. With their base tuition already being double of those who live in-state, the increase in tuition and room and board could mean they no longer afford to attend school.

The tuition raise will not do enough to decrease the budget shortfall and the school should have done something that would not have as affected students so negatively.