Nixon proposes tuition freeze for second consecutive year

Missouri college students won't have to pay more for tuition next year thanks to a plan announced by Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday.

Under Nixon's proposal, state colleges and universities that agree not to raise tuition will receive only a 5.2 percent reduction for the next fiscal year. Schools this year agreed to do the same and in exchange received stable funding.

"To turn this economy around, Missourians must be trained, educated and ready to work, and that's why it was vital that we kept tuition flat for Missouri families," Nixon said in a prepared statement. "As tuition skyrockets by double digits in other states, university leaders, faculty members and my administration have worked together to put Missouri students first and protect them from tuition spikes for the second year in a row. By helping keep higher education affordable, we are taking bold steps to prepare the workforce that will move Missouri forward."

Total higher education funding will be reduced by $42 million, according to estimates provided by the Governor's office. The plan will require approval of the state legislature and each education institutions' governing board.

The freezes of tuition increases for two consecutive years show Nixon's commitment to Missouri students. The freezes follow average annual tuition increases of 7.5 percent over the past decade.

"The governor's action today strikes the best balance in a difficult and fiscally challenging time for our state," University of Missouri President Forsee said in a press release. "This agreement mitigates the magnitude of the cut that higher education would otherwise have received and enables us to hold undergraduate tuition flat for one more year."

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Governor's Press Release

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