ONLINE EXCLUSIVE STORY BY TIM WEBBER

The cost of tuition at Drake University continues its steady upward march.

In an email to students earlier this afternoon, university president Marty Martin announced that undergraduate tuition will increase by 4.5 percent in the 2016-17 academic year, a hike of $1,510. The Board of Trustees made this decision in their January meeting.

In addition, room and board rates will also increase by several hundred dollars. The total cost for full-time undergraduate students in 2016-17 is expected to be $45,056, a $1,764 increase over this year’s rates.

These increases are markedly similar to increases in the past several years. Last year — almost to the day — the university announced a cost increase 4.52 percent. The year before, the increase was 4.4 percent.

The pharmacy school’s prices are also going up. All pharmacy students will see their tuition increase by 3 percent.

The extra income generated by the tuition increase will be used in a variety of areas, but Martin specifically mentioned improvements to buildings and technology infrastructure in his email.

The Times-Delphic will have a full story on the tuition increase, including student reactions, in its February 10 edition.