The New England Institute of Technology made waves last Monday when they announced that they would be cutting tuition nearly in half in certain programs starting this semester.

Tuition will fall in these programs:

• Building Construction Technology
• Electrical Technology
• Electrical Technology with Renewable Energy Systems
• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Plumbing and Heating Technology
• Welding Engineering Technology
• Automotive and Marine Technology

Speaking on behalf of the institute, Vice President of Community Engagement & Workforce Development Amy Grzybowski said the tuition cuts show New England Tech’s commitment to helping students of all economic backgrounds receive an education.

“It just reinforces our commitment to affordability, accessibility and high-quality education for students pursuing careers in those skilled trades,” Grzybowski said. “We know that demand for this workforce continues to grow. We’re helping students gain practical training and industry certifications without the financial barriers. It’s an opportunity for students to not see cost as a barrier.”

The new published tuition for students in the programs, according to Grzybowski, is $18,540, not including any aid that a student may receive.

Grzybowski said reducing tuition in these programs had been discussed for some time, and  that now was the right time to do it.

“Some of our skilled trades programs were already at this price, and so we wanted to align all of them to be the same price,” Grzybowski said. “It helps a student choose the pathway that they want, and not just choosing that particular pathway because of price or affordability.”

Making sure that more prospective students could pursue careers in fast-growing fields, Grzybowski said, was also a top priority for New England Tech.

Citing both local and national statistics on the trades industries, Grzybowski said that it was extremely important for more students to receive an education in the trades, and that it was critical for the institute to keep leading the way in that field.

“The skilled trades industry is facing a critical labor shortage, both nationally and here in Rhode Island,” Grzybowski said. “The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training is projecting a need for over 15,000 specialty trade contractors in the state by 2032 …. We’re really hoping to increase the access to education and help bridge the workforce gap.”

NEIT is hoping that increased enrollment will offset some of the reduced revenue per student from tuition, Grzybowski said.

“We are doing strong from an enrollment standpoint, because we’re a leader in these particular fields,” Grzybowski said. “We are committed to leading the way in this space, and we’re able to adapt to ensure that we’re able to provide the access for these particular programs.”