By Kassie Mullican
Staff Writer

The cost of higher education is at an all-time high for California State University students. But there are more fees associated with receiving an education than just tuition. Students have to pay mandatory campus fees in addition to their tuition to attend the campus.

And fees continue to rise.

At California State University, Bakersfield students who attended the 2013-14 year paid $435 per quarter.

For 2014-15 fees have gone up an additional 1 percent totaling a $5 increase to $440 per quarter.

Student Union fees went up $1, Health Services fees went up $1 and Associated Students Incorporated fees went up $3.

That may not seem like a large increase, but according to Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment, the total enrollment for full time students at CSUB as of September 23, 2014 is 8,867.

Under the fee increase, students are paying $44,335 more in fees this quarter than they would have without the 1 percent fee increase.

Mercedes Macias, a senior political science and religious studies major, stated that she was aware of the fee increase and was ok with it. “I know it’s an open book, you can read the reports for the Student Union and Associated Students Incorporated online” said Macias.

When asked how she felt about the fee increase, Macias responded “I don’t have any inclination either way. CSU’s were intended to be free for California students, but times are changing.”

The fee increases has been a continuing trend over the last decade. Students have seen their fees increase progressively over time.

Ryan Hansford, a senior Criminal Justice major stated “To me it’s only a couple of dollars, but I understand why it’s going up and the effects it will have over the years.”

You can access the breakdown of student fees by visiting http://www.csub.edu/BAS/fiscal/studaccount/Student%20Financial%20Services/Registration%20Fees/index.html