State legislature still deciding on budget

Tuition for next year is still up in the air, but students can expect a zero to 3 percent increase, said David Creamer, senior vice president for administration.

The uncertainty is because of conflicting proposals from the state Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate proposed a freeze on college tuition for the next two years, while the House proposed allowing up to a 3 percent tuition increase for this year, and a zero percent increase the following year.

Creamer said this zero to 3 percent increase, which would increase tuition up to $252, is lower than it has been in the past.

“Six percent has been the increase for the past couple of years,” he said.

While Creamer said not knowing the cost of tuition at this time could provide a problem for students and parents, he said it may be more manageable because the tuition increase is not as great as it has been.

“Normally we’ve been able to provide this answer before students leave in the spring semester,” he said.

Creamer said students can expect to know tuition costs for next year by the end of June.

Contact principal reporter Christina Stavale at [email protected].