Trending
MARSHALL -- This year's state legislative session was a positive one for Minnesota State colleges and universities. Minnesota State spokespeople said this week that higher education funding approved in the 2023 session will make it possible to freeze tuition rates for students for the next two years.
On Wednesday, Minnesota State board of trustees approved an operating budget that will freeze undergraduate tuition at 2023 levels, a news release said. This year, tuition at Minnesota State universities averaged $8,685, and $5,471 at Minnesota State colleges.
"We have deep appreciation for the leadership that Chair Gene Pelowski, Chair Omar Fateh, committee members, and Governor Walz showed in making this tuition freeze possible with their historic investment in higher education," said Devinder Malhotra, chancellor of Minnesota State. "The funding positions the colleges and universities of Minnesota State to respond to the critical needs of students, promotes equitable student success, and will help provide Minnesota the talent and workforce it needs."
The Minnesota State system said the tuition freeze was made possible by a $292.9 million investment in state colleges and universities.
"It's a great investment the state of Minnesota made," said Bill Mulso, vice president for government relations, communications and marketing at Southwest Minnesota State University. Having a tuition freeze in place for the next two years was something that would help university students and their families, he said.
"Families will already know what tuition is going to be like," Mulso said.
Other parts of the higher education funding bill were also exciting to see, Mulso said. The bill included funding for the "North Star Promise" scholarship program, which Minnesota State said will become available in the fall of 2024. North Star Promise scholarships will help make public higher education available without tuition costs for students from families that make less than $80,000 a year, Minnesota State said.
"We're excited about that opportunity," Mulso said.
Minnesota State said the higher education funding bill also included funding for initiatives to address student mental health and other support needs; expanding opportunities for work-based learning; and continuing the Workforce Development Scholarship program that encourages students to enter high-demand career fields.