The University of Wyoming is seeking public comment on recommendations regarding student tuition for the 2018-19 academic year.
“I think this proposed tuition changes coming forward is a really great opportunity to increase our recruitment and retention of out of state students,” ASUW President Benjamin D. Wetzel said.
As presented to the Board of Trustees recently, the recommendations from Huron Consultant Group include, reducing annual undergraduate out-of-state tuition from $15,480 at present to $9,500. Taking into account scholarships and other discounts, the current average net tuition for nonresident undergraduates is $10,600.
The UW Board of Trustees is being asked to consider a four percent increase in tuition for in-state undergraduates, presently $3,870 per academic year; resident graduate students, presently $4,518; nonresident graduate students, $13,500.
“The four percent increase to in-state tuition is nothing new,” Wetzel said. “Every single year both in-state and out-of-state tuition do increase by four percent unless there is action taken otherwise. This is an inflation adjustment done in every year.”
Additionally, the board will consider recommendations aimed at helping the university increase enrollment in accordance with its strategic plan. Huron has found that UW has sufficient space to accommodate 1,000-1,400 more students, the strategic plan calls for an approximately 1,100 student increase, to 13,500, by 2022.
“Compared to in-state tuition, out-of-state tuition is extremely high,” undergraduate senior Shavinka Fernando said. “So, I was delighted to hear this news and hope it will pass through. I’m certain this will encourage more out of the state student[s] to come in the future.”
Recommendation from Huron includes, gradually increased in-state tuition for online courses for Wyoming residents to $200 per credit-hour, while reducing out-of-state tuition for online courses from $541 per credit at present to $319 for undergraduates and from $775 per credit at present to $325 for graduate students.
“Through the study we found out that we already lower the tuition quite a bit by offering scholarships,” Provost Vice President for Academic Affairs Kate Miller said. “Our overall goal of this study was to look at whether we can add more out of state students and still increase our overall tuition revenue coming into the university.”
Those wishing to provide written comments on the recommendations can do so by going online to www.uwyo.edu/trustees/public-comment/. The deadline for written comments is noon Monday, Feb. 12.
Those wishing to address the Board of Trustees directly during the Feb. 14 meeting can join the meeting via telephone or Zoom video conference at 8:30 a.m.
“We would welcome anyone in the community to participate in the public comment opportunity that the board is providing at the February meetings,” Miller said.
