U of M proposes tuition hikes across all campuses, 7% cut to academic programs
The University of Minnesota is proposing tuition hikes of up to 7.5% and cuts to academic programs for the next fiscal year as it navigates what it calls "unprecedented challenges facing higher education."
Under the proposal, undergraduate tuition rates would increase at all of U of M campuses across the state; a 4% hike at the Crookston and Duluth campus and a 5% hike at Morris. The in-state tuition rate would go up 6.5% for students at the Rochester and Twin Cities campuses, while out-of-state tuition would rise by 7.5% in the Twin Cities.
For grad student Sadie Berlin, the increase might not impact her right away, but she knows it's coming.
"If the tuition increases, I'll have to do, you know, maybe one class at a time, or maybe I won't be able to do school at all for a semester," Berlin said.
She believes the University could find a way to meet in the middle with students if they are going to raise costs.
"I think that if they are going to increase the tuition, then they should help give back to the students whose budgets might take a toll," Berlin said.
Groups like the National Student Financial Aid Administrators say many colleges are in the same boat, trying to balance shrinking funding with rising costs.
"Anytime there is an increase in tuition, it can lead to a funding gap for the student," Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations for NASFAA, said. "They need to figure out, 'well, how am I going to make up those increased expenses?'"
Some university employees will see a 3% increase based on merit, the university said in a release. At the same time, the university says there will be a 7% cut to academic departments.
University leaders say the financial struggles stem from cuts to federal research funding, projecting a 10% to 30% reduction due to "recent terminations and stop-work orders."
The university says there may be "dramatic reductions" to future budgets for the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation.
Funding from the state is also uncertain, the university said, with an anticipated 3.5% decrease when adjusted for inflation.
The U is currently facing two federal lawsuits: one alleging discrimination against white students and another for failing to protect Jewish students. The Trump administration is threatening to cut more than $150 million a year from the university's National Institutes of Health medical research funding if the university does not cooperate.
"The University of Minnesota is not immune to the unprecedented challenges facing higher education. We are making tough, strategic decisions to protect our mission and secure our future," said President Rebecca Cunningham.
The board says it'll accept in-person comments during a public forum scheduled Thursday at 4:15 p.m. They're expected to act on the budget proposal on June 18.
