The fee increase went into effect with the passage of the state budget in July. Last year, the state increased student enrollment fees more than 60 percent – from $11 a unit to $18 a unit.

        The new, $26-per-unit fee is now in effect for community college students throughout California.

        For a full time student taking 15 units, the enrollment fee increase will add another $120 to the cost of attending a community college this semester. That is an increase from $270 a semester to $390.

        Student enrollment fees at California community colleges are set at the state level by the Legislature, and are the same at all 109 community colleges in the state. Local colleges will not keep the revenue generated by the fee increase. Instead, the additional revenue must be sent back to the state’s general fund to help offset a $38 billion state budget shortfall.

        Students at Orange Coast College, Golden West College and Coastline Community College who have already enrolled and paid $18-per-unit fees for the fall 2004 semester will be billed for the increase in fees. Students who sign up for classes today will be charged $26 per unit.

        To help offset the fee increases, the state budget passed in July also set aside $38 million earmarked for financial aid outreach to community college students statewide. Students can access more information about how to access financial aid by going to www.icanaffordcollege.com.

        The Coast Community College District is the seventh largest community college district in the nation in credit enrollment, serving 55,000 students each semester.  The district is comprised of Coastline Community College headquartered in Fountain Valley, Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, and KOCE-TV, the district’s public broadcasting station.

 ###