Tuition in the Nebraska State College System is going up 3.2% this fall for both graduate and undergraduate students.
Undergraduates will pay $192 per credit hour or about $5,760 for a full load of 30 credit hours with graduate students paying $240 per credit hour.
Chancellor Paul Turman says the increase unanimously approved last week by the State College Trustees was necessary to close “a sizable budget gap” created by the difference between state funding and rising operational costs caused by inflation and rising staffing costs.
The total operating budget for the coming year for the 3 colleges and system office is roughly $186.5-million dollars, but state appropriations will cover only about 70% of salaries and 73% of health benefits, leaving a shortfall of just over a million dollars in those two areas alone.
When the state college system has faced funding shortfalls in the past, revenue from tuition increases covered all part of the budget, but Turman recommended this time to put the entire increase toward salary and benefits.
He says “given the strong support from the Legislature and the governor on the total budget packages, the colleges will need to grow enrollments to generate new revenues, or cut costs or services to address the shortfall for utilities, insurance, and other operating expenses.
Turman says the trustees didn’t make the decision to raise tuition “lightly” because they understand that any tuition increase can place a financial burden on students and their families, adding that the state college system remains committed to providing an affordable, outstanding educational experience.”
The chancellor says the state college system will continue to prioritize scholarships, financial aid, and other forms of assistance “to ensure accessibility and inclusivity remain core principles of our institutions.”