University of Missouri considering raising tuition for fall semester

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

University of Missouri students may have a bigger bill this school year, as a result of a proposed tuition increase.

MU spokesman Christian Basi said the UM Board of Curators Financial Committee met Monday to discuss the proposal. Students would see a 2.3 percent increase in tuition. The raise will cover inflationary costs for the university.

However, Basi said the hike in tuition would also cover losses in revenue from COVID-19. He said MU lost about $27 million in state withholding this year alone.

"We have to be prepared for financial challenges going into the new fiscal year, which begins July 1," Basi said.

The new tuition would generate about $7 million for the university, assuming enrollment stays on course, Basi said.

However, Abby Sweiger, an incoming freshman at MU, said she doesn't think it should be the students responsibility to make up the university's losses.

"You're going to hit the people that are doing their best, working their hardest, and already had something in mind," she said.

Sweiger plans to attend the MU Vet School in the fall, but that plan could change based on the Curators' decision on Thursday.

"If it's going to be harder than what I can fix, then I might be looking at other schools," she said.

The committee voted to approve the increase in tuition Monday, which sends the final decision to the full board of curators. The board is expected to make a final decision Thursday during its regular meeting.

The only UM System students exempt from the raise in tuition is a group of graduate students at Missouri S&T, meaning all MU students would be subject to the change.

Check back for more on this developing story and watch ABC 17 News at 5 and 6.