State Regents Give Approval To Tuition Increases

Wednesday, June 28th 2006, 2:07 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approved tuition and fee increases averaging about 5 percent Thursday for colleges and universities across the state.

The increases include a 5.8 percent hike at the University of Oklahoma, an increase that was first approved by the university's regents Wednesday, and a 6.8 percent increase at Oklahoma State University.

The hikes, which will take effect for the 2006-2007 school year, average 5.2 percent for the state's 25 colleges and universities.

Only three institutions requested no increase in tuition _ Connors State College in Warner, Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa and Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell.

Rose State College in Midwest City had the largest percentage increase, a 9.4 percent hike for undergraduate resident tuition and fees.

Regent Jimmy Harrel of Leedey was the lone opposing vote to the increases.

``My concern is being able to educate Oklahoma kids at Oklahoma colleges,'' Harrel said.

``I said last year there was no satisfaction of the appetite. We've had increases of 40 percent over three years. I felt like we needed to take a slower approach.''

On average, Oklahoma residents will pay about $147 more in tuition and fees, while nonresidents will pay an average of $360 more, higher education officials said.

Chancellor Paul Risser said tuition hikes were lower this year because of additional state appropriations from the Legislature.

``Thanks to the generous appropriation that the state legislators and governor approved for higher education, our institutions were able to keep tuition increases to a minimum rather than double-digit increases that might have been necessary,'' Risser said.

State lawmakers this year approved a bill that would have stripped the state regents of the authority to raise tuition and fees and return that power to the Legislature, but the measure was vetoed on Monday by Gov. Brad Henry.

Henry indicated in his veto message that the bill deviated from the agenda of the special session he called to write a state budget and created a major policy change with little discussion or debate.

But Sen. Frank Shurden, who authored the bill, said he was tired of double-digit tuition increases at state colleges.

``The sad truth about the matter is the working middle class is being priced out of an education,'' said Shurden, D-Henryetta. ``If you don't make very much, you qualify for grants and tuition waivers. If you're very wealthy, you can afford it.

``Those working middle class folks, it's hitting them hard, and those are the people I'm trying to look after, the ones that are paying the bills.''

With the increases approved Thursday, OU remains the most expensive public school in the state, at $5,109.50 for 30 undergraduate credit hours, according to figures provided by the regents office. By comparison, resident students at OSU will pay $4,996.80 for 30 credit hours.

The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha is third highest, with an estimated cost of $3,720, a 6.9 percent increase from last year. The University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond increased about 7.5 percent, with a cost of $3,538.50 for 30 undergraduate credit hours.

In a letter to OU students on Wednesday, President David Boren said increased legislative appropriations this year resulted in the lowest percentage tuition hike at OU in nine years.

``We project that this increase will be among the very lowest in the Big 12 and will keep our tuition and fees 11th or 12th in the Big 12,'' Boren wrote. ``I realize that any increase in costs requires sacrifices, but I am pleased that the increase this year is relatively modest.''

Boren said tuition waivers for low-income students will be increased by the same percentage as the tuition hikes, and that more scholarships will be made available to help offset the increased costs.

To view a list of all the colleges and their tuition/fee increases, CLICK HERE. [pdf file]