Lindenwood University’s Board of Directors has approved a 2.9 percent increase in the undergraduate tuition rate for the 2015-2016 academic year. The total expense for residential undergraduates, including tuition, fees, room, and board, will go up by 2.1 percent.

President James D. Evans said the increase is a reflection of the rising costs of operations and staffing needs. Full-time graduate tuition will go up 2.9 percent (or $221), and the increase in the LCIE accelerated evening program will be 3 percent, effective with the summer quarter.

Evans stated that Lindenwood works hard to keep increases in tuition and fees at a minimum while dealing with rising costs and maintaining a high-quality academic experience for its students.

Lindenwood University, founded in 1827, is an independent liberal arts university offering more than 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in diverse areas of study in traditional and accelerated formats, including online. Lindenwood operates residential campuses in St. Charles, Mo., and Belleville, Ill., as well as regional centers throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.