MnSCU Tuition Freeze Protecting Affordability

MnSCU tuition approximately one-half to one-fifth the cost of alternatives

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 18, 2014 – Undergraduate tuition at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will remain frozen in the 2014-15 academic year in a key component of the system operating budget adopted by the Board of Trustees at their June meeting.

 “The benefits of freezing undergraduate tuition for the second year in a row continue to make MnSCU colleges and universities the lowest cost, highest value higher education option in the state of Minnesota,” said Steven Rosenstone, MnSCU chancellor.

Under the freeze, undergraduate tuition rates for 2014-15 academic year will remain at the 2012-13 academic year levels. Average student fees will increase by less than 0.5 percent. According to Rosenstone, the freeze was made possible by the actions of Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature. “I would like to express tremendous gratitude for the $52.5 million in state-funded tuition relief that makes this freeze possible.” Graduate tuition will increase three percent.

Tuition rates at MnSCU colleges and universities are dramatically lower than the alternatives. “Tuition at the seven MnSCU state universities is nearly one-half that of the University of Minnesota, and one-fifth the cost of private colleges and universities,” said Rosenstone. “Tuition at our 24 colleges is less than one-third the cost of private trade schools. These differences save students tens of thousands of dollars and leave students with dramatically less debt upon graduation.”

Cost of Tuition Actually Lower in 2014-15 for Many Students

Affordability received a significant boost during the 2013 session when the Legislature and Governor Dayton improved access to the state grant program, including expanded access for working part-time students with financial need. This improvement benefited about 7,700 MnSCU college students and 760 MnSCU university students in the 2013-14 academic year. Rosenstone said, “The combination of the tuition freeze and the changes to the state grant program will, on average, actually lower the cost of tuition for MnSCU students receiving a state grant in the 2014-15 academic year.”

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities include 24 two-year community, technical, and comprehensive colleges and seven state universities serving more than 430,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.

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