January 19, 2000 -
MnSCU Board Approves 4.6% Tuition Increase
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The Board of Trustees for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities today
unanimously approved a package of tuition increases for the 2000-01 school
year ranging from 2 to 8 percent. While each of the 36 colleges and universities
proposed its own increase, the average increase is 4.6 percent and will
have an impact of about $97 per year on a full-time student.
Chancellor Morris J. Anderson cited the dramatic enrollment increase
this year as one reason for the needed boost in tuition revenue. Fall
enrollment jumped 6.6 percent this year, but state appropriations are
based on a lower number of students. Enrollment numbers in 1998-99 were
especially low, due in large part to a statewide conversion to a semester
calendar that caused many students to enroll in fewer courses or finish
school prior to the switch.
State colleges and universities also received less from the 1999 Legislature
than they requested. As a result, 27 of the system's 36 schools are receiving
less state funding this year compared to last
year.
"No one enjoys raising tuition," said Chancellor Morris J.
Anderson.
"Our institutions take pride in being a good value. But they are
also focused on quality. We are serving about 9,000 more students this
year, with a net drop in resources. We don't have options."
Tuition will increase an average of 4.4 percent at Minnesota's two-year
public colleges where full-time students will pay about $2,154 for the
2000-01 school year.
"We are trying to serve more students, more effectively with less
money," said President Ann Wynia, of North Hennepin Community College
where enrollment jumped 7 percent last fall over the previous year. "We
have talked with our students and told them we will move beyond business
as usual. We are actually going to improve services to students, including
financial aid, advising and tutoring."
For state university students, tuition will increase an average of 5.6
percent to about $2,753 per year for a full-time student. Three state
universities will again charge a flat tuition rate for students enrolled
in 12 or more credits. Full-time students at Minnesota State University,
Mankato; Bemidji State University and Winona State University will pay
the same price for any course-load over 12
credits. Part-time students will continue to pay a set cost per credit.
Students in graduate programs will pay an average of $142 per credit,
an increase of about 5.6 percent over last year.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is made up of 36
state universities, community and technical colleges. The system serves
approximately 230,000 students a year with a fall 1998 enrollment of about
147,000.
(See attached file for college and university
tuition increases.)
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