New students to pay surcharge at Purdue

Purdue University officials plan to start adding a $500 surcharge to the tuition bills of new students.

The plan calls for the fee to be waived for in-state students this year only, but be charged to all new out-of-state students starting this fall.

Officials say the fee is needed because of an expected decline in state funding for ongoing operations.

Purdue Vice President Jim Almond says plans are for the fee revenue to go toward financial aid, student success programs and attracting and retaining top faculty members.

Purdue's trustees are expected to vote Monday on setting tuition, which without the new fee is proposed to go up 5% to $8,138 for in-state students at the West Lafayette campus.