IU-Bloomington may freeze undergraduate in-state tuition
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Indiana University President Michael McRobbie has recommended freezing undergraduate tuition rates for the next two years for Indiana residents attending the main campus in Bloomington, the school announced Wednesday.
McRobbie also recommended the IU Board of Trustees approve 1.5 percent increases for out-of-state tuition at IU-Bloomington each of the next two years while tuition at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and IU’s five regional campuses would increase an average of 1.65 percent, the school said.
McRobbie attributed the proposed freeze to higher state appropriations over the next two years for IU-Bloomington, largely because of the campus has met performance funding metrics established by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
“Indiana University is grateful for the strong support we received from the General Assembly, Gov. (Mike) Pence and the commission in the recently concluded session,” McRobbie said in a news release. “We share with the state a common vision of increasing the number of Hoosiers who graduate from college, while at the same time doing everything possible to see to it that our students graduate on time and with as little debt as possible.”
The announcement came days after Purdue University trustees approved freezing tuition for a fourth straight year.
Current university estimates place the average cost of tuition and fees at $21,382 per year for Indiana residents and $44,234 for out-of-state students, The Herald-Times reported.
Graduate school tuition increases for Indiana residents will vary by school but average about 2 percent and be limited to a maximum of 3 percent, IU said. Nonresident graduate school tuition would increase by a little less than 3 percent on average.
IU trustees will hold a June 3 meeting in Indianapolis to hear public comment on the tuition recommendations.
In 2011, a new fee schedule called for in-state undergraduate tuition and fees to increase by 3.5 percent. In 2013, the university added an increase of 1.75 percent for both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.
IU last year stopped offering a 25 percent discount on summer tuition at the Bloomington campus. IU started the discount program after criticism from state legislators and others about college affordability.