A Multi-Criteria Model For Optimizing University Tuition Structures

The revision of tuition rates is an annual event at academic institutions. The existence of multiple and often conflicting goals, however, make the process extremely difficult. In light of rising educational costs and reduced federal and state support, the tuition structure must ensure adequate financial resources for the university. Increases in tuition rates, however, may negatively impact student enrollment and reduce the availability of higher education. The purpose of this article is to present a multi-criteria model for the tuition setting processing at the university level. A goal programming approach is used to ensure the tuition structure is consistent with a variety of broad policy constraints typically faced by administrators.