Tuition and fees for the vast majority of Missouri Western State University students would not increase in 2014-2015 under a plan approved by the Board of Governors, on the condition that Gov. Jay Nixon’s budget proposal for higher education is approved by the Missouri General Assembly.

Gov. Nixon recommended a $36.7 million increase in higher education spending, plus an additional $22 million for STEM initiatives. If that budget is approved, Missouri Western would see more than $1 million in additional state appropriations. However, the Missouri House this week sent to the Senate a higher education budget with a $26.5 million increase, which would give Missouri Western an increase of less than $200,000 if approved by both chambers.

“We appreciate Gov. Nixon’s support of higher education, and share his commitment to keeping the cost of a university education within reach of Missouri families,” said Cale Fessler, vice president for financial planning and administration. “In fact, if the governor’s budget is approved, next year will be the fifth time in the last 11 years that Missouri Western will have frozen tuition for in-state undergraduate students.”

Because of the state funding uncertainty, the Board of Governors approved two tuition proposals for in-state undergraduate students on the St. Joseph campus. If the governor’s proposal is approved, resident tuition and fees will remain at $216.60 per hour. If a smaller state appropriation is approved, resident tuition and fees will rise 1.55 percent, to $219.95 per hour.

All other tuition categories are set for next year regardless of the legislature’s action. Tuition and fees for out-of-state students on the St. Joseph campus will remain the same as last year, $416.31 per hour. There will be $5 per credit hour increases for: In-state and out-of-state undergraduates taking classes at the Kansas City Northland campus, Penn Valley or online; all in-state graduate students; and out-of-state graduate students at Kansas City Northland, Penn Valley and online. For those students, the increase is between 0.97 to 2.16 percent. Graduate tuition for nonresident students at the St. Joseph campus will remain unchanged.

The Board of Governors also approved room and board rates for next school year. Housing costs will rise between $42 and $59 per semester, depending on the room, or between 1.5 and 2 percent. The board rate will rise $67 per semester for all meal plans. That increases ranges from 3.6 percent to 4.5 percent. There will also be two “FLEX” declining balance plans available to students. The $800 FLEX plan is unchanged from this year. The larger FLEX plan will rise from $1,395 to $1,500.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.