Tuition increases proposed by MnSCU

Note: This release contains some information that has been updated since the original news release was issued July 3.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities today announced that tuition would increase by an average of 10.9 percent in the 2001-2002 academic year under requests submitted by the 34 institutions to the Board of Trustees.

Later this month, the board will consider the requests, which would increase tuition next year by an average of $249 for a full-time student, bringing average tuition for the year to $2,541.

"We need the tuition increases because we won't compromise on quality," said Chancellor James H. McCormick, who began work Monday as the system's new chancellor.

"Although tuition is going up, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will continue to provide students with accessible and affordable higher education and technical training," McCormick said. "Nowhere else will you find a better value, and we intend to maintain this fine tradition."

The Board of Trustees will consider the proposed tuition increases at a committee meeting July 13 and then act on them at its regular board meeting July 17-18.

The two-year state community and technical colleges propose increasing tuition by an average of $241 or 11.2 percent for full-time students in the 2001-2002 academic year. That would bring average tuition to $2,400.

The four-year state universities propose tuition increases averaging $279 or 10.0 percent next year, bringing the average tuition for full-time students to $3,070.

Even with the tuition increases, most campuses will reduce costs by closing or suspending programs, laying off personnel or leaving positions unfilled, cutting equipment purchases and implementing other cost-saving measures.

MnSCU had requested a $255.6 million budget increase in the next biennium, but the Minnesota Legislature appropriated and Gov. Jesse Ventura approved a $100 million increase for the system for the next two years. The system's general operating budget (tuition plus state appropriation) is about $921 million for the fiscal year that began July 1.

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