October 21, 2009 Tuition increases at Worcester schools Play video

(NECN: Katie Daly, Worcester, Mass.) - A new look at the cost of college shows another increase in tuition rates this fall.

That's according to the College Board, a national organization composed of more than five thousand schools across the country.

Nicole Veeder is a senior at Becker College. Financing her education hasn’t been easy. For the past three years she's relied on loans, grants and a part time job to help pay her tuition.

But Nicole may be in a better position than most college students. According to the college board four year public colleges in the U.S. raised the annual tuition and fees by an average of 6.5 % and private schools climbed 4.4%. This fall officials at Becker College decided to freeze tuition and fees.

Becker College President Joseph Bascuas says the college has had to cut back on expenses because of its decision to not raise tuition.

Across the city Worcester State College increased tuition eight percent this fall.

But Worcester state officials say that tuition at about six thousand dollars a year is still a bargain. Compared to the national average tuition cost at about seven thousand dollars at a public college and about 26,000 at a private college.

At Holy Cross tuition is 38,000 dollars a year, financial aid officials say its well worth the cost.

At Becker, Nicole Veeder is banking on that.