STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Students will have to pay more this fall to get a college education in Mississippi.
The state College Board on Monday approved multiyear tuition increases at Mississippi’s eight public universities, saying the move is one of many measures in the face of budget cuts.
The tuition hikes range from 4.5 percent for in-state students at Mississippi Valley State University to 9 percent at Jackson State University and Delta State University. Tuition also increased for nonresident students at all universities except the University of Southern Mississippi.
Currently, the lowest tuition for in-state students is $4,423 at Mississippi University for Women. The tuition at MUW will rise to $4,644 next fall. In fall 2011, that tuition will increase to $4,876.
At Mississippi State University, the school with the state’s largest enrollment, tuition will increase from $5,151 to $5,461 next fall. The tuition will increase to $5,805 the next year.
The universities presented to the College Board last week business plans that included tuition increase requests for fiscal years 2011 and 2012. College leaders also have plans to scale back programs and eliminate some jobs.
MUW’s tuition hikes equal five percent increases in 2011 and 2012. Nora Miller, vice president for finance and administration, said the school wanted to cap the increases.
“We felt uncomfortable going above five percent. Over five percent might be the tipping point and we might lose some enrollment,” she said. “That’s up less than $20 per month. With the cost of everything going up, that seemed like a reasonable amount.”
Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.
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