UM System proposes increased tuition for out-of-state, graduate students

ROLLA — In-state undergraduate tuition would remain frozen, but out-of-state and graduate tuition would increase under a UM System recommendation to the Board of Curators on Thursday.

The recommendation upholds a deal cut by Gov. Jay Nixon and Missouri public universities in November and follows the state Senate’s recent incorporation of the tuition freeze into their budget. The curators vote on the proposal Friday.

The agreement proposed that in-state undergraduate tuition would not increase, in exchange for the state capping higher education cuts at 5.2 percent.

The system's proposal would increase out-of-state undergraduate student tuition by 5 percent at MU and Missouri S&T and 2.7 percent at UMKC and UMSL. All graduate student tuition would increase by 2.7 percent.

The increase would bring undergraduate out-of-state tuition to $646.10 per credit hour at MU and MS&T and $631.90 per credit hour at UMKC and UMSL. Resident graduate students pay $306.80 per credit hour and nonresidents pay $792 per credit hour.

Increased tuition at professional schools and additional supplemental fees were also recommended. Those would vary according to the program.

MU Chancellor Brady Deaton said students have been made aware of increased program fees, and many are supportive because they realize extra funds can have a positive effect, like increasing teaching capacity.

The recommendation also suggested adding seven more counties to the four in the Kansas City area that already receive a special in-state tuition rate at UMKC.

Chancellor Leo Morton said this rate allows UMKC to keep student enrollment competitive with schools like the University of Kansas.

Student numbers were an issue for some curators. UM enrollment has increased by 26 percent since fall 1999. In light of the MU School of Law’s reduced ranking in a recent US News and World Report, some questioned whether quality education can be maintained as enrollment strains the system.

Deaton said he believes it can. He said the university analyzes enrollment capacity annually, and MU can afford to increase student numbers.