Cost of attendance at the University of Minnesota this upcoming fall may soon be on the rise. President Kaler recently released his proposal for funding the University which includes tuition hikes for state residents of 2.5% at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and a roughly 10% hike for non-residents. Undergraduate students at the Duluth, Morris, Crookston, and Rochester campuses
Students benefiting from tuition reciprocity who hail from Wisconsin, North Dakota, or South Dakota will witness a 2.5% tuition rate hike this fall. While students will not benefit from the proposal, faculty and staff will. Kaler’s budget proposal includes a 2.5% merit salary raise for both faculty and staff.
The proposed budget calls for roughly $375 million to be spent on campus renovation, improvements, and construction. According to the proposal, this money is needed to act upon the University’s mission of “research, education and outreach.”
Kaler’s proposal isn’t sitting well with Prahith Chakka, an out-of-state student that is graduating when the spring semester with a degree in Econcomics. When asked his thoughts on the proposal, Chakka stated bluntly “I think it’s unfair, and it is going to reduce the quality of students coming from out of state,” adding, “As an out state student, I would not have gone to this school had tuition hike applied to me.”
Tyler Reese, another graduating out-of-state student, studying Ecology, Evolution and Behavior major, echoed Chakka’s sentiment. “I couldn’t afford to go to Ohio State University or the University of Wisconsin, but I liked both schools about the same as the University of Minnesota. When I found the U was about $10,000 cheaper per year, it was a no-brainer.”
Sophomore Economics major Brad Born has a unique perspective on raising tuition. “If there is a tuition hike, it should at most reflect the rate of inflation.” If it were up to Born, tuition would fluctuate with the rate of inflation, to ensure student’s purchasing power is consistent.
Kaler’s proposal will be considered by the Board of Regents in early June. If passed, the tuition hikes would go into effect beginning in the upcoming fall semester. Subscribe to Alpha News to get the latest on the happenings at the University of Minnesota.
