There will not be an increase in tuition next year at Missouri State University.
The Missouri State University Board of Governors voted today (April 3) to keep tuition flat for 2009-10. The decision to not raise fees for the coming year is part of an agreement between Missouri’s four-year colleges and universities and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.
Under the agreement, the governor recommended to the state legislature that in fiscal year 2010 the institutions receive the same state appropriation they received in fiscal year 2009. In return, the institutions have pledged not to raise tuition or academic fees during the 2009-10 school year.
“By agreeing to hold tuition flat for next year, Missouri State University will not increase the burden of investing in a college education at the very time when an increasing number of students are seeking to enroll in the university to get the educational background they need to succeed in the 21st century economy,” said Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel. “With a tuition rate already below the national average, this strategy will enable Missouri State to grow even more competitive for students interested in pursuing their education with us.”
Undergraduate fees remain at $186 per credit hour for in-state students and $362 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Basic fees for graduate students will remain at $214 per credit hour for resident students and $418 for non-resident students.
For the third year, basic fees for the West Plains Campus will remain the same at $102 per credit hour for Missouri residents and $204 for non-Missouri residents. The 2009-10 tuition for Greenwood Laboratory School will also remain at $4,366.
The Board also approved a $2 per student sustainability fee. The fee was proposed by students and approved by a student vote in March. The sustainability fee is expected to raise about $70,000 per year and the university administration has agreed to match the funds up to $75,000 per year. Projects funded by the fee will be proposed and approved by students.
“The sustainability fee was a student initiative, and we are excited that Dr. Nietzel agreed to essentially match the funds raised by students and show the university’s commitment to sustainability,” said Orlando Hodges, Student Government Association (SGA) president.
The Board previously voted to increase room and board costs by 4.2 to 4.7 percent, depending on the type of residence.
The university has recently announced several new programs to help make college affordable for Missourians. The Missouri State Advantage Scholarship will provide a $1,000 scholarship to any graduating high school senior who has completed at least six hours of Missouri State dual credit with a 3.0 GPA and enrolls at Missouri State as a full-time student in the fall. RENEW, Renewed Employability Now Education Waiver, will provide a partial waiver of fees, along with personal counseling and advisement, to assist individuals who have lost their jobs due to the economic crisis since October 2008. Both programs begin in the Fall 2009 semester. Information about all scholarship opportunities is available online at http://www.missouristate.edu/FinancialAid/scholarships/default.asp
Another university initiative that will continue to help control tuition cost is CAP-IT – the Choice And Predictability in Tuition plan – which was introduced in Fall 2006. For the current year, students may choose a standard tuition plan where students are assessed tuition and required fees at rates in effect for the current year, or students may choose CAP-IT’s tuition prepayment plan, which allows students to make a lump-sum prepayment that will cover basic fees for all courses they take during the period of the plan (excluding summers), regardless of changes in the standard tuition rates or the number of credit hours taken.
SGA passed a resolution supporting the recommended tuition and fees.
“Students appreciate that the president and administration have made student success a priority and have continuously worked to keep education affordable,” said Hodges. “We recognize that the entire university is working to keep costs low for Missouri State students.”
More information about Missouri State University is available online at www.missouristate.edu.
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