Students should expect to see significant changes in their tuition bills starting next year.

Southern Oregon University is changing the way tuition is calculated. As of next school year, students will be paying for their tuition by the credit, instead of using the current "plateau" model. The model includes making the first credits very expensive and charging a flat rate for students taking 12 to 20 credits.

The change will make calculating tuition bills easier but will make some student's bills increase. Vice President of Student Affairs Jonathan Eldridge has heard a lot of complaints that the current system is too complicated.

"It's really hard for students to budget because if you add or drop a class it changes dramatically," he said.

The Oregon University System required that all universities generate an additional 9.5 percent revenue next year. Among other changes, SOU decided to take the opportunity to change the structure of the tuition billing process.

The effect that the new system will have on tuition depends on the amount of credits students take.

"Tuition was going to increase either way," said Matt Stillman, Director of Enrollment Analysis. "At least we're fixing what was truly a broken system."

To meet the demand SOU has made changes in various parts of the university including structure of the tuition billing process.

"Students will be paying a share of the redistribution in funding, but more than half will be subsumed by the system," said Eldridge.

Included in the change is a two-credit rebate available for eligible students taking 15 to 20 credits.

"We've introduced a tuition rebate to take off some of those extra costs and to encourage students to take more classes," said Eldridge.

All students who are Oregon residents or participating in the Western Undergraduate Exchange are eligible for the rebate. The rebate will not mitigate costs entirely. Even with the bonus credits, students taking 16 credits may pay about 20 percent more next year.

"I realize they have to raise tuition but that doesn't make it any less unfortunate for us out-of-staters," said Liz Morgan-Beesley, an SOU junior.

Eldridge said that the changes were made with the federal financial aid package in mind. Students who have a bigger tuition bill will qualify for more financial aid.

"We're confident that for a huge amount of our students, they'll only have to pay a small portion of the increase," said Eldridge.

Associated Students of Southern Oregon University vice president Taylor York, explained the conflict for students.

"Budgets are tight all around," said York. "It's hard from a student perspective because you want the school to stay open, but you don't want it coming out of your own pocket."