As you can probably imagine, lots of people are unhappy about this development.

The Boston Globe reports.

Expected hike in UMass tuition looms large on Boston campus

Any university would be hard pressed to think up a better student than Rohan Nijhawan. He’s intelligent, driven, and loyal to his school, UMass Boston. His near-perfect 3.78 GPA speaks for itself.

But if, as expected, the University of Massachusetts board votes to raise tuition Thursday, Nijhawan is nervous about the consequences.

The 26-year-old senior, who was born in India, already works 30 to 40 hours per week. He pays for school through a patchwork of scholarships, grants, family assistance, and his job as a freelance Web designer.

In Nijhawan’s mind, it’s a simple calculation. If tuition increases, “I would probably have to work more, which would impact my grades.”

He is one of several UMass Boston students interviewed this week who are decrying the prospect of paying more. The university system will probably raise the cost at all of its campuses by at least 5 percent, officials have said. Last year, the cost for in-state students to attend the Boston campus was about $13,000.

While the hike will affect all five campuses, UMass Boston students say it will fall particularly hard on them. The college has long prided itself on educating low-income and first-generation college students, as well as immigrants.

Nearly 50 percent of UMass Boston students are minorities, according to university data.


 
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