Kansas Board of Regents approves tuition hikes for six state universities

Topeka — Kansas students who plan to attend to a state college this Fall better start saving up. The Kansas Board of Regents approved tuition hikes at all six state universities for the 2011-2012 school year. Emporia State University President Michael Lane says, "None of us likes to raise tuition, but given the state of the state budget and the fact that we've received no increase, in fact decreases from the legislature, it's essential to maintain the quality of education."

Tuition increases for the 2011-2012 school year (per semester) are as follows:

KU: +5.5% = $222
KSU: +3.8% = $141
ESU: +6.8% = $158
FHSU: +3.6% = $70
WSU: +5.1% = $150
PSU: +6.5% = $157
University of Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little says, "As we lose state funding, for reasons that we understand, it's important to look at what that means for tuition. Tuition has to go up."

Kansas Board of Regents Chair Ed McKechnie says, "Unfortunately, tuition is now the largest source of revenue for our state universities, which means students contribute more to the state universities through tuition than the state does through funding." Lane says, "It's going to become a very difficult process and I think affordability of higher education in the state of Kansas is deeply at risk." Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz says, "Kansas State University has the highest percentage of students in the Big 12 Conference that are on need-based financial aid. So, for us, it's particularly relevant because we have so many families struggling."

Students at all six universities have been involved in the tuition increase process and university leaders say they will use every dollar as efficiently as possible. In past years, state funding made up about 50% of the state university budgets. Now, it makes up less than 25%.

Video at the link: http://www.ktka.com/news/2011/jun/16/kansas-board-regents-approves-tuition-hikes-six-st/

college is getting unaffordable