Brandeis tuition will rise four percent next year, increasing the cost of a full year of classes to over $30,000, according to the administration. This increase will also be applied to room and board.Last year, the administration raised tuition by six percent, for a cost of $28,999. Beginning next fall, tuition will be $30,160.

"The University was committed to keeping next year's increase as low as possible," University President Jehuda Reinharz said in a press release.

Executive Vice President Peter French added that four percent was the sum that University officials felt balanced the budget most effectively

"We have a balanced budget," French said. "We're able to increase faculty salaries, staff salaries and provide additional funding for priorities put forth by Jean Eddy, senior vice president for students and enrollment and priorities put forth by Provost Marty Krauss."

Associate Vice President for Budget and Planning James Hurley explained that for Eddy, these priorities include using additional funds for organizational restructuring and salary readjustments. For Krauss, these priorities include increasing peer faculty and graduate student stipends.

But some students take issue with the mounting cost of attending Brandeis.

"There is no reason for the tuition to keep rising when nothing radical is being done to improve the quality of life here that I can see," Ross Reitman '06 said.

Judy Mark '06 agreed.

"More money should provide more services and facilities," she said. "Why are people still stuck in unnatural triples? Why does a salad and a water cost you $9? This is outrageous."

Hurley said the four percent tuition increase compares favorably to tuition increases announced at other institutions, such as 5.15 percent at Harvard, six percent at Kenyon College and 5.8 percent at Babson College.

Hurley said the Board of Trustees approved the increase at its meeting on March 23.

As part of the annual budget process, the schools and administrative units of the University submit budget requests to President Reinharz.