Indiana's public colleges freezing tuition for two years
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Indiana's public colleges and universities are freezing tuition and fees for the next two years.
Why it matters: Indiana has a college-going problem, and cost is one of (if not the) biggest barrier to pursuing and obtaining a college degree or postsecondary credential.
Driving the news: All seven of Indiana's public colleges and universities, including main and regional campuses, will hold tuition and mandatory fees flat for in-state undergraduate students for the next two years, Gov. Mike Braun announced Tuesday.
- The decision comes at the request of Braun and a recommendation made last month by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
- It applies to Ball State University, Indiana State University, Indiana University, Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue University, University of Southern Indiana and Vincennes University.
Stunning stat: According to Braun's office, it's the first time in 15 years that more than two campuses have simultaneously held tuition flat.
- Purdue's in-state tuition has been frozen at $9,992 since 2013.
The intrigue: The state's public higher education institutions are already facing a 5% budget cut over the next two years, made after the state budget writers had to close a $2 billion funding gap in the last week of the legislative session.
What they're saying: "Keeping tuition flat keeps the door open for students of all backgrounds, all ZIP codes and all walks of life," Samantha Fleischaker, a student at the University of Southern Indiana and student representative on the Commission for Higher Education, said in a statement. "It's not just a number. It's the difference between opportunity and what feels impossible."
The bottom line: College still appears to be worth it, as the wage gap between recent college and high school grads has been growing for decades.