The cost of tuition at Pittsburg State University in Kansas is comparable to most public universities in Missouri, but Jennifer Long chose an out-of-state school because of its flat-rate tuition option.
Long is the student Gov. Jay Nixon introduced during his State of the State address Tuesday as an example of the need for more affordability in the Missouri universities. He said cost forced her to leave the state to attend college.
In a telephone interview, Long said she looked first at Missouri state schools before deciding on Pittsburg State.
“I checked out Missouri schools before I went to Pitt. It ended up being cheaper,” Long, 23, said.
“I ended up paying $2200 per semester, no matter if I was taking 12 hours or 21 hours,” she said. “I never have to worry about the cost of how many classes I am taking.”
Although she is from Kansas City, Long said she is able to pay in-state tuition under residency regulations covering students who live within two hours of a Kansas college.
“The flat rate clenched the deal, knowing that was all I was going to pay — ever. And Pittsburg turned out to be a great school for me,” Long said. “I love it.”
Truman State University is the only public university in Missouri that offers a flat tuition rate. College costs are the same for a student taking between 12 and 17 hours. Other state universities list a cost per credit hour on their Web sites.
Taking 12 hours at one of Missouri’s 13 public universities ranges in price from $1,716 at Missouri Southern State University to $3,229 at Truman State. All four campuses in the University of Missouri System charge the same tuition price, $2947.20 for 12 credit hours. Semester costs may vary depending on departmental costs and other course fees. For example, MU charges an additional $54.50 per credit hour taken in the engineering department, according to MU's Office of Cashiers Web site.
Pittsburg State University is cheaper than six public universities in Missouri — the four universities in the MU system, Truman State University and Northwest Missouri State University.
The tuition is about the same as the University of Central Missouri, Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri State University and Lincoln University.
Only Missouri Southern State University, Harris Stowe State University and Missouri Western State University are less expensive than Pittsburg State.