The expectations of a new, bigger conference is once again placing a financial hit on season ticket holders, but the raise is not as bad as many may think.

Season ticket prices for TCU football are expected to rise in 2013, according to the university's athletics website. All season ticket rates have risen by $25. By comparison, the previous six seasons before the Horned Frogs’ transition to the Big 12 saw a $10 increase in season tickets. 

Currently, 2013 season tickets available to the public range between $225 and $525, while season tickets for faculty and staff range between $180 and $480, depending on donations level for ticket holders, which scales between $0 and $300.

While the university ticket office could not be reached for comment on the latest increase, the university's media relations director Mark Cohen said in a recent statement that home games against big-name schools like Texas and Baylor, along with added features to the stadium based on initial feedback, contributed to the rise in prices.

“While football season-ticket prices have increased slightly for the 2013 season, the overall value remains the best in the Big 12,” Cohen added.

According to numbers compiled from other schools within the conference, TCU’s high-end rate for season tickets ($525) is the lowest in the Big 12. The next lowest is West Virginia with a high-end season ticket rate of $895. 

While Kansas ($99 to $350) and Texas ($325 to $615) show competitive rates on their respective athletics websites, they do not include unspecified mandatory donation levels for priority season ticket buyers.

Additionally, out of the nine other schools in the Big 12, six of them (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech) show high-end season ticket rates of more than $1,000. It also should be noted that the range of ticket prices for many of the other Big 12 schools vary highly based on donation levels and eligibility requirements, according to each of the universities' official athletic websites.