Board of Curators vote to raise tuition by under 1 percent for 2015 at four system campuses, once again well below annual increases in surrounding states
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ of Missouri Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ maintained its position as a national leader in terms of affordable education after the Board of Curators voted today to raise tuition at the Consumer Price Index level, which is under one percent, for the 2015-2016 calendar year.
Tuition for Missouri resident undergraduate students next year will amount to $9,335 for the academic year, which is below the national average of public doctoral granting institutions and significantly below the private doctoral national average.
“The Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ of Missouri continues to set the pace nationally in keeping education affordable for our students while also providing the resources necessary for the university to remain a quality, academic institution,” Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Don Cupps said. “We are proud that we are able to make our mark with tuition rates below the national average compared to similar institutions, combined with our high-quality education, groundbreaking research and service to the state.”
On average, the UM Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ has raised tuition and required fees the past five years 2.4 percent annually, compared to 5.4 percent by comparable institutions in surrounding states. These modest tuition rates have occurred despite enrollment that has now surpassed 77,000 students, an all-time high for the UM Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ. Overall, in-state tuition and fees at all public colleges and universities in Missouri – almost a third of which are Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ of Missouri Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ campuses – saw one of the lowest rate of increase over the past five years of any state in the nation.
“The Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ of Missouri is the premier institution of public higher education in our state, as we consistently lead the way by providing Missourians with high-quality, affordable public education,” said Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ of Missouri Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ President Tim Wolfe. “This year’s modest increase in tuition, combined with our similarly small increases in previous years and constant commitment to identifying ways to be more efficient and effective that last year alone resulted in $48 million in savings to the university, help ensure that an education from the four campuses of the Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ of Missouri Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ remains affordable to all students that desire one.”
Wolfe also noted that the UM Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ continues to identify cost savings and invest additional resources into financial aid to further reduce the cost of higher education for students, particularly among the neediest students. In addition, the university continues to enhance its services to help ensure students are receiving the assistance they need to be successful in their academic careers.
Curators also voted today to increase non-resident undergraduate tuition rates by 0.8 percent at the UMKC, 2.9 percent at UMSL, and 3 percent at both MU and Missouri S&T. These rates are based on the economic and market conditions of each campus.
Changes in tuition rates will become effective with the 2015 summer session.
Reviewed 2015-02-05