BY JACKSON CARMUSIN // MARCH 25, 2014 // 

When you’re paying $32,800 for one year of college tuition, adding $950 to the total doesn’t seem like much. But now think about what you could do with $950.

That’s the amount tuition will rise at Curry College next year. Fees are also increasing by $50, to $1,665. And for those living on campus, room and board will go up by $200, to $13,510, for a total of $48,925.

PAL students are looking at additional increases, such as $200—from $6,540 to $6,740—for credit-bearing services. Additionally, the PAL support services fee will go up $100. Curry’s website accounts for additional expenses, such as transportation and books.

According to some students, the annual increases are tough to stomach.

“While I’m not paying, my parents are, I think it’s ridiculous that we’re paying more and more,” said senior communication major Andrew Dilworth.

According to sophomore English major Mary Thomas: “College is supposed to prepare us for life, but it just hurried us into debt.”

In 2012, the average debt load of college graduates that year was $29,400, reports the Institute for College Access & Success’ Project on Student Debt. And that’s just among those who graduated; the figures don’t include students who dropped out or were dismissed.

Curry is hardly unusual when it comes to the cost of attending a private college in New England. Similarly sized schools that are categorized as “somewhat selective” in their student acceptance rates, according to The College Board, cost the same as Curry. For example, Stonehill College (tuition of $36,160 in 2013-14), Salve Regina University ($34,950) and Regis College ($34,380) are all slightly more than Curry.