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Board of Curators votes to freeze tuition at current level for 2015 at four system campuses

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ maintained its position as a national leader in terms of affordable education after the Board of Curators voted today to freeze tuition at current levels for Fiscal Year 2015.

Tuition will remain flat for Missouri resident undergraduate students next year. Most students will pay $8,335 in tuition for the academic year, which is below the national average of public doctoral institutions and significantly below the private doctoral national average.

“The ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ continues to set the pace nationally in keeping education affordable for our students while also providing the resources necessary for the university to remain a quality, academic institution,” ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Board of Curators Chair Don Downing said. “We are proud that we are able to make our mark with tuition rates below the national average compared to similar institutions, combined with our high-quality education, groundbreaking research and service to the state.”

On average, the UM System has raised tuition and required fees the past five years 2.2 percent annually, compared to 6 percent by comparable institutions in surrounding states. These modest tuition rates have occurred despite enrollment that has now surpassed 75,000 students, an increase of 34 percent in the last 13 years. Overall, in-state tuition and fees at all public colleges and universities in Missouri – almost a third of which are ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ campuses – saw the lowest rate of increase over the past five years of any state in the nation. 

“The ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ is the premiere institution of public higher education in our state, as we consistently lead the way by providing Missourians with high-quality, affordable public education,” said ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ President Tim Wolfe. “This year’s tuition freeze, combined with our modest increases in previous years and constant commitment to identifying ways to be more efficient and effective that last year alone resulted in $47 million in savings to the university, help ensure that an education from the four campuses of the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ remains affordable to all students that desire one.”

Wolfe also noted that the UM System continues to identify cost savings and invest additional resources into financial aid to further reduce the cost of higher education for students, particularly among the neediest students. In addition, the university continues to enhance its services to help ensure students are receiving the tools they need to be successful in their academic careers.

Curators also voted today to increase non-resident undergraduate tuition rates 3 percent at MU and Missouri S&T, and 1.5 percent (the rate of inflation) at UMKC and UMSL.  The board also voted to increase graduate resident tuition rates on all four campuses by 1.5 percent. These rates are based on the economic and market conditions of each campus.

Changes in tuition rates will become effective with the 2014 summer session.