The cost of a college education in Kentucky continues to inch upward. Meeting in Bowling Green today, the Council on Postsecondary Education approved tuition ceilings for the state’s public colleges and universities.
The state’s two research universities, University of Kentucky and University of Louisville will be allowed to raise their rates up to 5 percent for the 2016-17 academic year. That’s a maximum of $547 per student per year for UK and $527 per student per year for UofL.
The state’s six comprehensive schools can increase tuition anywhere from 4.6 percent to 5.8 percent, or up to $432 per student per year. The CPE approved a 4.6 percent hike for Western Kentucky University, 4.95 percent for Northern Kentucky University, and 5.4 percent for Morehead State University. Tuition costs can rise at Eastern Kentucky University by 5.3 percent, 5.7 percent at Murray State University, and 5.8 percent at Kentucky State University.
The Council also endorsed Murray State’s new tuition and scholarship model. MSU's Shawn Touney says the university's tuition increase "represents a weighted cap, or a combination of both current and incoming students' tuition."
The CPE is also allowing the Kentucky Community and Technical College System’s 16 institutions to hike tuition by $9 per credit hour.
CPE President Bob King says he understands the concerns from students.
“The good news is that the campuses are providing increasing amounts of financial aid. So, the reality is that the net cost to our students is significantly less. And certainly for our middle and lower, middle income and lower income students,” King said
The tuition hikes will help the schools offset state funding cuts, mandated pension increases, and higher operating costs. CPE President Bob King thinks most students will be understanding.
“The students want to be sure that they have classes that they need for graduation, that they have quality faculty, that they have the facilities they need and the equipment they need to learn whatever discipline it is, in which they’re studying,” King said.
Even with the additional tuition revenue, campuses will face a nearly $65 million shortfall in the coming academic year. The tuition increases come after an intense legislative session where Republican Gov. Matt Bevin cut state spending on colleges and universities by more than $40 million during his first year in office.
