NU tuition jumps 4 percent

LINCOLN -- The Nebraska Board of Regents has unanimously approved a 4 percent tuition increase to help balance next year's budget.

The increase puts undergraduate tuition at University of Nebraska-Lincoln at $187 per credit hour; University of Nebraska at Omaha at $170.50 per credit hour; and the University of Nebraska at Kearney at $151.25.

In spite of the increase, the cost for Nebraska students to attend an NU campus for one year remains below average compared to in-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at comparable institutions, according to data provided today by Chris Kabourek, NU budget director.

For example, resident tuition and fees at UNO for one year are $6,114, compared to an average of $6,889 at peer institutions, which include Northern Illinois, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Cleveland State, and the University of Colorado-Denver.

NU President J.B. Milliken stressed that student aid is being increased to soften the financial blow for low- to moderate-income students.

Nonresident and graduate tuition at UNL also went up 4 percent, except for the college of law, which had an additional $17 per credit hour added under a provision approved last year to boost College of law tuition over three years.

Graduate tuition at the other institutions also went up 4 percent, except for some specific graduate programs at UNMC -- nursing, physical therapy, medical nutrition, and dentistry -- where tuition was boosted significantly to improve faculty salaries and equipment.