Oklahoma College and Tuition Fees to freeze under bill | Education

Oklahoma’s public faculties wouldn’t be allowed to increase tuition or charges above present ranges under laws accredited by a state Senate committee.

“I am concerned that students are having to make tough value-proposition decisions in terms of pursuing higher education,” stated state Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond.

Senate Bill 363, by Pugh, states that starting with the 2023-2024 tutorial 12 months, “the tuition and fee rates to be charged to students enrolled at an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall not exceed the tuition and fee rates approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for the 2022-2023 academic year.”

Pugh stated the intent will not be to lower school funding, however to as a substitute make any improve reliant on state appropriations somewhat than tuition will increase. He stated the quickly growing price of faculty seems to be harming Oklahoma’s workforce improvement.

“Our higher-ed enrollment is down,” Pugh stated.

“It’s actually down significantly. I went back and looked a decade, and a decade ago our higher-ed enrollment at end-of-year count, which is the only data I could have, we were 10 years ago just over 150,000 (students). And last year we were 126,000—but our population has grown.”

The pattern of declining school enrollment in Oklahoma not solely bucks the pattern of accelerating state inhabitants but in addition a rising shift within the economic system to jobs that require some degree of upper schooling, Pugh famous.

He believes tuition-and-fee inflation has performed a major position in driving Oklahoma college students away from school.

Since 1963, total inflation within the economic system has boosted costs by 200 p.c. But the price of school has surged 740 p.c throughout that point.

“I can’t get anybody to answer me, ‘Why? Why are we outpacing every other indicator of a less-valuable dollar — and significantly outpacing it?’” Pugh stated.

Data in a legislative fiscal evaluation exhibits a major improve in Oklahoma school prices has occurred within the final decade.

In 2013, the per credit score hour tuition and price prices at Oklahoma’s analysis universities was $246.40.

By 2022, the associated fee had risen to $309.20. At regional four-year universities in Oklahoma, the associated fee elevated from $167.20 in 2013 to $245.40 in 2022.

At the state’s two-year faculties, prices rose from $105.90 to $154.60.

Pugh famous that 12 different states have carried out related freezes on school tuition and charges, and the flagship universities in different states have additionally locked charges.

SB 363 handed the Senate Education Committee on a 12-0 vote.

Note: Mr. Carter’s news story, reposted right here with permission, first appeared on-line right here: