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Kentucky Universities Given the OK to Raise Tuition

WKU

The cost of a college education in Kentucky continues to inch upward.  Meeting in Bowling Green Tuesday, the Council on Postsecondary Education approved tuition ceilings for the state’s public colleges and universities.

The state’s two research schools, the Universities of Kentucky and Louisville, will be allowed to raise their in-state undergraduate rates up to 5 percent each for the 2016-17 academic year. 

For the state’s six comprehensive universities, the increases vary from school to school.  The CPE approved a 4.65 percent hike for Western Kentucky University; 4.95 percent for Northern Kentucky; and 5.4 percent for Morehead State. 

Tuition costs can rise at Eastern Kentucky University by 5.3 percent; 10.4 percent at Murray State; and 5.8 percent at Kentucky State.

The CPE is allowing the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to hike tuition by $9 per credit hour.

CPE President Bob King said that a number of factors facing schools have shifted the financial burden to schools.

"The good news is that the campuses are providing increasing amounts of financial aid, so the reality is that the net cost to our students is significantly less, and certainly for our middle and low income students," King told WKU Public Radio.

Kentucky's colleges and universities are raising tuition to cope with decreased state funding, greater pension obligations, and increases in operating costs.  Even with the additional tuition revenue, campuses will face a nearly $65 million shortfall in the coming academic year.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.
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