THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996                 TAG: 9603240063
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG                       LENGTH: Medium:   52 lines

JMU STUDENTS WILL PAY MORE NEXT YEAR FOR TUITION, FEES BUT THE INCREASES ARE THE SCHOOL'S LOWEST IN AT LEAST 25 YEARS, THE UNIVERSITY SAID.

Students attending James Madison University in the fall will pay more, but the increase is the school's lowest in at least 25 years, the university said.

The cost for an in-state student to live on campus will be $8,770, up 2.1 percent - $180 - from the $8,590 it cost this year.

In-state students living on campus this year paid 2.9 percent more than those the year before, the university said.

Out-of-state students will pay 2.9 percent more, $376. The total cost will rise from $12,870 this year to $13,246 next year, the university said.

A boost in state funding is the primary reason fees will not increase as much next year as they have in years past, said Linwood Rose, JMU executive vice president.

The General Assembly approved a $76.5 million operating budget for JMU for the next two years, an 18.5 percent increase from its current $64.6 million two-year budget, he said.

Cost-cutting and containment in other areas of the budget also contributed, Rose said.

While cost increases are likely to continue in coming years, Rose said the rate of increase could level off for a while.

Room and board charges for Virginians and non-Virginians alike will rise 2 percent, from $4,576 to $4,666.

Tuition and mandatory fees for in-state students will increase by $90, or 2.2 percent.

None of the fee increases for Virginia students will go to tuition, due to a statewide freeze on tuition increases.

The tuition freeze does not apply to out-of-state students, who will pay 3.3 percent more in tuition next year.

JMU's total operating budget, including revenues in addition to the state tax dollars, will be $150.8 million for 1996-97, a 10.2 percent increase from this year's $136.9 million.

The budget also includes about $15 million in infrastructure, equipment and the foundation of a second academic building for the College of Integrated Science and Technology; approval to construct a $14 million CISAT residence hall that will be financed by student rent; and approval to develop a student housing program in downtown Harrisonburg. by CNB