Tuition for undergraduates at Missouri’s public colleges and universities is frozen for next year, after Gov. Jay Nixon signed House Bill 2003, the 2017 fiscal year higher education budget, on Wednesday during a visit to Missouri State University. In September 2015, Nixon and leaders of the state’s public higher education institutions agreed to this tuition freeze.
This will be the fourth tuition freeze Nixon has implemented since becoming governor in 2009.
Tuition at Missouri public universities increased by 9 percent between the 2008-09 and 2015-16 school years. Nationally during that time, tuition increased on average by 33.5 percent, according to a [news release.](https://governor.mo.gov/news/archive/gov-nixon-signs-fy2017-higher-education-budget-freezing-tuition-missouri-undergraduates)
“Today, I am very proud to mark another milestone for higher education in Missouri and our shared commitment to putting a quality, affordable college degree within reach for more Missouri families,” Nixon stated in the news release.
According to the MU Admissions [website](http://admissions.missouri.edu/costs-and-aid/costs/), the tuition costs for students taking 14 credit hours is $10,586 for Missouri residents and $25,198 for non-Missouri residents, both along with $10,062 for room and board. The bill prevents these costs from increasing in the fall.
Along with the tuition freeze, Nixon released a statement saying the budget provides an additional $71.3 million for higher education in Missouri, including scholarships and institutional operating funds.
The UM System will receive about $17 million for increased aid to colleges and universities, according to the [Columbia Missourian](http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/nixon-approves-higher-education-budget-um-system-s-funds-to/article_898e24d6-0a87-11e6-96cf-134cbc0d24ba.html), and will add between $6 and $7 million to MU’s budget, according to the [Columbia Daily Tribune](http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/education/nixon-signs-higher-education-spending-plan-with-tuition-freeze/article_cf71f19c-5764-5556-a357-a45556d4a5ac.html). The increases will not affect plans to cut $20 million from campus spending and to impose a hiring freeze due to declining enrollment.
The Tribune reported that several university-related programs were included in the budget increase. The State Historical Society of Missouri received a $1 million budget increase and $500,000 was allocated for the College of Veterinary Medicine. The budget increase included $1.5 million for an MU Extension community health care program and $250,000 for the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Center.
_Edited by Kyra Haas | khaas@themaneater.com_