Sue Loughlin, The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Students will pay higher room and board rates at Indiana State University for 2010-11.

Those in rooms and residence halls with more amenities will see larger increases.

The standard room and board rate for campus residence halls will increase 3.9 percent, while rents for university-owned apartments will increase 5 percent.

Rates for enhanced/premium facilities with more amenities — such as semi-private bathrooms and air conditioning — will increase from about 8 to 13.4 percent. “We need to align our rates with the amenities,” said Tom Ramey, vice president for student affairs.

A previous rate structure “tended to be on the backs of the incoming students,” he said.

The new pricing reflects renovations and improvements made to residence halls, said ISU President Dan Bradley.

Under current pricing, some students with more amenities have been paying less than others in rooms with no air conditioning and bathrooms down the hall, Bradley said.

Trustee Ed Pease asked several questions seeking clarification on the room and board increases. He said the new pricing more accurately realigns room and board rates with amenities provided.

“While rates for next year have not been set at other institutions, we believe our room and board rates are very competitive, even when compared with this year’s rates at universities offering similar housing and meal plans,” Ramey stated.

Rates at University Apartments will also remain competitive with the local market, especially since those rates include utilities, cable television and wireless Internet, he said.

The rate for a standard double room in a campus residence hall, with a standard meal plan, will be $7,752 per year. Rent at University Apartments will range from $520 per month for a one-bedroom unfurnished apartment to $783 for three-bedroom apartments.