Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees to consider tuition increase

“A college degree has never been more important and valuable,” said Chancellor Stan Carpenter. “We know that earning a college degree changes lives and that students enroll for that very reason. Chadron, Peru and Wayne State are the best value proposition in the region. A decision to raise tuition is never easy. The NSCS remains committed to maintaining and improving the academic quality of our institutions, providing strong student services, and strengthening our mission as colleges of opportunity. The focus has always been and will continue to be on investing in our students, their families and Nebraska.”

During the past several months, NSCS Board members, staff from Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges, and staff from the NSCS office completed an enterprise risk management exercise and identified several strategic initiatives for each of the colleges. Central to the discussions was that higher education is important to the state, the region and the nation, and as such, deserves an investment from both state government and our students and their families. This investment will ensure strong and vibrant institutions now and into the future and will guarantee that our students will be afforded the opportunity to get a great education.

Upon hearing of the proposed tuition increase, Wayne State College student trustee Matt Mullins said, “Even with the proposed increase in tuition, the state colleges are a bargain. I know the board members and staff at the system office and colleges work hard to keep the costs down in order to minimize any burden on us students. I appreciate that the board wants to invest in the colleges by hiring additional faculty and staff. While I am happy that we paid the same tuition the last three years, the proposed increase this year is necessary to support the academic and student services I rely on each and every day.”

In a historic partnership with then Governor Dave Heineman in 2013, the NSCS agreed to freeze the undergraduate tuition rate for two years. As a result, students have paid the same tuition for three years. Nebraska has a long and storied history of supporting public higher education. This year, the state appropriation did not fully cover the NSCS's core needs and does not provide for the strategic investments needed to continue strengthening the educational programs and services offered at Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges.

Carpenter was quick to point out that the proposed increase in tuition is not the result of filling in a gap left by the tuition freeze of the past two years. He said that there was no gap. Carpenter went on to explain, “There are two primary sources of revenue for the NSCS: state appropriations and tuition. When the cost of doing business outpaces the increase in state appropriations, we are faced with the difficult decision of either raising tuition or cutting programs. The prospect of cutting academic programs is unacceptable.”

“The Board remains committed to maintaining robust, healthy and dynamic institutions. The proposed tuition increase would enable the colleges to strengthen academic, accreditation and assessment programs by hiring additional faculty and staff in these key areas,” said NSCS Board Chair Michelle Suarez.

Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Carolyn Murphy said, “Fortunately, Nebraska’s institutions have not experienced the drastic cuts experienced by many institutions around the country. However, the basic costs of providing quality higher education grows each year. The proposed tuition increase will help each College cover its core needs and invest strategically to continue to improve programs while maintaining the NSCS mission of access and opportunity.”

Chadron State College President Randy Rhine added, “The NSCS is committed to maintaining great academic programs with individualized attention in the classroom and opportunities for students to work closely with faculty, advisors and staff members – things that distinguish Chadron State, Peru State and Wayne State from larger institutions. We are dedicated to developing great leaders who will make contributions to their communities in Nebraska and beyond.”

—NSCS Office