Missouri a leader in holding down college costs

Missouri leads the nation in holding down tuition and fees at public four-year institutions, according to an independent study.

The 2015 Trends in College Pricing report released yesterday by the College Board shows the state had the lowest rate of such increases since 2008.

The Missouri rate was 9.21 percent, compared to a national average of 33.5 percent and 30.82 percent in Kansas.

Maine was second with 9.23 percent and Montana third with 9.7 percent.

Gov. Jay Nixon cited the numbers in a media release.

“This report reaffirms Missouri’s leadership in keeping a lid on tuition hikes, especially when compared with the dramatic tuition increases seen in other states,” Nixon said.

The emphasis on affordability has helped increase enrollment on many campuses, he said, and a recent increase in the percentage of Missourians with college degrees ranks among the top 10 nationwide.

Nixon also recently announced that he and leaders of the state’s public two-and-four year institutions have agreed to freeze tuitions for undergraduates for the 2016-2017 school year.

That is reflected in his proposed 2017 budget, along with an additional $55.7 million in performance funding for education.

That would bring total state funding for higher education to a record $985 million next year, he said.