The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education gave final approval Friday for tuition rates at state public universities. The council capped raising tuition by 6 percent over the next two years.
Council President Bob King said how universities get that 6 percent may vary from school to school.
"So a campus that is choosing to do four percent this year is, in a sense, committing themselves to only a two percent next year. Or they could do three and three or three and a half and two and a half," King said.
Each university board sets tuition rates. Murray State University has approved a 3 percent increase and West Kentucky Community and Technical College System approved a 4.3 percent increase.
The council also adopted a change in minimum admission standards for high school graduates. The new minimum GPA requirement moves from 2.0 to 2.5. Students with a grade point average between two and 2.5 could still be admitted if they agree to a learning contract with the specific school.
King said, "Today’s action represents a major policy milestone that will increase student success for literally thousands of students over time. We are extremely grateful to all our campus presidents and chief academic officers for their shared commitment to help more students persist and graduate."
Other minimum requirements for college admission remain unchanged and include:
Meeting the Kentucky Minimum High School Graduation Requirements; meeting the pre-college curriculum requirements; and taking the established college admission or academic readiness assessments established by the Kentucky Department of Education.
The amendment now moves through the legislative regulatory review process and requires adoption by the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee and the Interim Joint Committee on Education. If adopted, the amendment would take effect for the 2019-20 academic year.
