KS colleges to see largest tuition hike in 5 years, breaking pattern of limited increases
For the first time in five years Kansas college students will see a significant tuition increase when they begin classes at state universities in the fall.
The Kansas Board of Regents unanimously approved requests from state universities to increase tuition across the board, breaking a trend of flat and minimal increases that the board and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly have imposed on the universities since 2019.
Tuition at the University of Kansas will increase 5%, while Wichita State University will increase tuition 5.9%.
Tuition will also increase 5% at Kansas State University, Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University. Fort Hays State University in western Kansas will see the biggest increase at 7%.
The board accepted the increase requests, though some members abstained from voting on increases related to specific graduate programs in which they were currently enrolled.
“Even with this increase we’re still way under the cumulative inflation,” Jon Rolph, chair of the board, said during Wednesday’s meeting.
“We do have to deliver a high level of excellence for people who are coming and it does cost money to do that.”
When the universities presented their tuition proposals last month, leaders said the increases were necessary to maintain staff salaries amid ever rising inflation.
The increases, university leaders noted, would not come close to the overall inflation rate since tuition last saw a substantial increase and would keep Kansas universities affordable as compared to peer institutions in the Midwest.
The tuition hikes came after the Kansas Legislature reduced Kelly’s requested 5% raise for university employees to 2.5% in the annual budget and rejected $21.7 million in additional funds to adjust for inflation.
In-state tuition will increase by $252 per semester for undergraduate students at KU. It’ll also increase by $202 for undergraduate students at WSU and $237 per semester at K-State.
