The University System of New Hampshire’s board of trustees recently voted to freeze in-state tuition for the next two years, according to a University of New Hampshire news release.
The board made its decision after the state legislature restored two years of funding — some $153 million — for higher education.
The university system is comprised of the University of New Hampshire, Keene State College, Granite State College and Plymouth State University. The system had asked the state to restore its funding to $100 million by the second year of the two-year budget, but the legislature came up short at $84 million for the second year. It was close enough, however, to prompt the trustees’ unanimous vote to approve the freeze.
This is good news for in-state students within the university system, according to The Nashua Telegraph. However, room and board costs are not included in the freeze and are expected to increase. Out-of-state students will see tuition hikes of 1 to 3.4 percent, depending on the school.
According to the Concord Monitor, the state’s community colleges also announced a tuition freeze for the 2013–14 school year. College system Chancellor Ross Gittell told the Monitor the enhanced state funding will allow community colleges to expand their curriculum offerings.
Educators voiced their appreciation that state and university officials joined forces to make higher education more affordable for New Hampshire’s 22,000 college students. University of New Hampshire President Mark Huddleston said the state’s higher education institutions play a “vital role” in the strength of the economy, according to the university press release.
Sara Jayne Steen, president of Plymouth State University, celebrated the in-state tuition freeze by talking about the connection between higher education and the state economy. “When students have access to higher education, they are prepared to join the workforce, create businesses, and strengthen New Hampshire’s quality of life,” she said in the same release.
College graduates play a significant part in the economy of New Hampshire, bringing qualified talent into the workforce. According to its website, the University System of New Hampshire has 81,000 alumni from its four universities currently living and working in New Hampshire.
Please Leave A Comment
Related posts:
Florida Governor Rick Scott Vetoes Tuition Increase
State Funding Cuts Have Led to Tuition Increases, According to Researcher
Coursera Guides State Universities into MOOC Market
Cutting Tuition Costs: Government and Universities Combating Costs
Tyco Settlement to Fund Business Ethics Programs at Universities
No Comment