Tuition and fees are going up at state universities in Kansas next year.
The 3.6 percent increase at each of the six institutions will take effect for the 2015-2016 academic year.
Increases range from $62 per semester for a full-time undergraduate resident student at Fort Hays State University, to an increase of $158 per semester at the University of Kansas and KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., according to a news release.
“It is the board’s belief, that the intention of the Legislature this past session was to cap both the tuition rate and the amount of required fees charged to students, limiting any increase to no more than 3.6 percent,” stated Kenny Wilk, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, in the news release. “While the need for increased resources remains great, we are asking our higher education leaders to be strategic, knowing we will continue to press the Kansas Legislature to increase funding for public higher education.”
The Legislature limited the amount that tuition could be increased to 2 percent plus inflation, for a total of 3.6 percent.
“The Board of Regents maintains that the responsibility for setting tuition and fees at state universities is the responsibility of the Board,” noted regent Shane Bangerter, who will next serve as chair of the Board of Regents, in the news release. “However, we are appreciative to legislative leadership, and the Legislature as a whole, for holding higher education funding flat during this difficult budget year. Therefore, the board has honored both the letter and the spirit of what was requested of us.”
The increase was below $200 a year for resident undergraduates at the universities.
Under the new tuition and fee rates, a resident undergraduate would pay:
Resident undergraduates
University of Kansas (standard) in Lawrence, $4,853.29 in 2015 to $5,028.25 in 2016;
University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., $4,782.20 in 2015 to $4,951.47 in 2016;
Kansas State University, $4,517.20 in 2015 to $4,674.80 in 2016;
Wichita State University, $3,633 in 2015 to $3,763.80 in 2016;
Emporia State University, $2,963 in 2015 to $3,069.25 in 2016;
Pittsburg State University, $3,025 in 2015 to $3,134 in 2016;
Fort Hays State University, $2,234.25 in 2015 to $2,305.95 in 2016.
Nonresident undergraduates
Nonresident undergraduates at KU would pay $12,353.50 in 2016, up from $11,923.54 in 2015.
Nonresident undergraduates at KU Medical Center would pay $12,274.47 in 2016, up from $11,850.20 in 2015.
Nonresident undergraduates at K-State would pay $11,714.30 in 2016 as compared to $11,312.20 in 2015.
Nonresident undergraduates at Wichita State would pay $7,925.55 in 2016 as compared to $7,650 in 2015.
Nonresident undergraduates at Emporia State would pay $9,363.25 in 2016 as compared to $9,038 in 2015.
Nonresident undergraduates at Pittsburg State would pay $8,369 in 2016 as compared to $8,078 in 2015.
Nonresident undergraduates at Fort Hays State would pay $6,807.30 in 2016 as compared to $6,579.15 in 2015.