Minnesota State approves tuition hikes to close $52 million gap

Facing financial uncertainty, Minnesota State’s Board of Trustees approved system-wide tuition hikes this week. 

Colleges in the system will see an average increase of 4.5 percent while universities in the system will see an average tuition increase of 6.5 percent. 

The increases are the result of several factors, including lagging student enrollment and uncertainty about federal funding. Reduced state funding also played a role. 

The tuition increases are part of a plan to close the system’s $52 million budget gap. 

For instance, Winona State University students will see a 6.5 percent tuition increase. School president Ken Janz said that even with that increase, Winona State is still less expensive than nearby Wisconsin schools. 

“I still think we are in the ballpark… of what we would consider our major competition across the river,” said Janz.

He added that Winona State students were consulted about the decision.

“At the end of that [consultation] our students had a deep appreciation for where we are at and why we’re asking for the tuition increase we are asking for,” he said. 

The Minnesota State tuition increases come as the University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a 6.5 percent tuition increase for similar reasons.