Tuition Increase Lowest Among State Universities

Reprinted Courtesy of K-State Media Relations

Kansas State University leaders said today the 2009-2010 tuition increase approved by the Kansas Board of Regents will help keep the cost of a K-State education affordable.

“In this economic climate, families are being faced with tough economic choices,” K-State President Kirk Schulz said. “Minimizing the financial burden of a quality college education — like that offered at K-State — is key to maintaining accessibility to higher education for Kansas families.”

“We are glad that the regents appreciate how important it is for K-State to be responsive to our students and families regarding the cost of attending our Big 12 university,” said Pat Bosco, vice president for student life and dean of students.

During their meeting Thursday, the regents approved a 3.9 percent increase in tuition for K-State — the lowest percentage increase for state universities in Kansas.

Dalton Henry, K-State’s student body president, said that this modest increase will help K-State continue to provide a quality education, while keeping that education affordable. Henry, a senior in agricultural communications and journalism from Randolph, is one of nine students on a 13-member committee that developed K-State’s tuition proposal.

“This has been a tough year for students and we recognized that when we put our tuition proposal together,” he said. “This will be significant to a student who is barely getting by or who is struggling to afford an education.”

Larry Moeder, director of student financial assistance at K-State, said that the ability of students to afford college has been impacted by the economy, as evidenced by the number of applications for financial assistance received by K-State. Compared with this time last year, the number of financial aid applications is up 26 percent, he said.

“In addition, a higher percentage of our students historically qualify for financial aide when compared to other state schools,” he said. “That’s why it’s so critical that K-State to balance value with affordability.”

Moeder said if a student’s financial situation changes, they can contact his office to have the amount of aid they receive adjusted. Students can also apply for aid year-round.

K-State has been recognized previously as an education value, including as one of Kiplinger’s 100 best values in public college education and one of the Princeton Review’s best value colleges in America.