NU regents considering 5% tuition increase after receiving smaller-than-requested state appropriation

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will consider a 5% increase to tuition at its meeting next week. The potential hike comes after the state legislature approved a much lower-than-expected budget increase for the university during the legislative session.

Board members will vote on the university’s budget, which includes the rise in tuition, at their meeting on June 19 at Varner Hall.

The state legislature recently approved a 1.25% increase for the next two years for the university’s budget, which is lower than the 3.5% university leaders had requested.

In an interview with Nebraska Public Media News last month, Dr. Jeffrey Gold said it was disappointing to see the smaller increase.

“These are tens of millions of dollars-a-year differences, and certainly it is not our objective at all to pass any of that back to the students in the form of tuition,” Gold said. “Our major goal is to keep high-quality, accessible education affordable to Nebraskans and to others who choose their educational journey with us, but there is no question that we will have to reassess our priorities as to how and in what we will invest.”

A press release from NU cited the lower appropriation as a reason behind the potential tuition increase. The university is also looking at ways to reduce tuition remissions, or unfunded scholarships, while continuing to support current students who benefit from those remissions.

“Affordability and accessibility remain the university’s top priorities,” Gold said in a statement. “The budget that the board will consider ensures the University of Nebraska continues to be affordable and accessible, while also helping maintain the high-quality educational opportunities our students expect.”

The university increased tuition last year by 3.5%. At the time, two of the seven regents voted against the increases.

Also in the budget, NU aims to cut more than $18 million in the next fiscal year. The university will also put $1.5 million into the Presidential Scholars program that gives full-ride scholarships plus a stipend to students who receive a perfect ACT score.

Another item on the board’s agenda is approving the new University of Nebraska at Kearney chancellor, Neal Schnoor. If approved, he would start July 1 with a salary of $355,000.