CMU Tuition Guarantee Threatened

By Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki, Detroit Free Press

Jul. 13–Central Michigan University may not offer future undergraduates a guarantee that their tuition rates will not change for their first five years of study after uncertainty over state funding caused it to boost tuition 21.1% for first-time, in-state students enrolling this fall.

CMU’s vote Thursday makes it the fifth state university to hike tuition rates this summer, though its situation is unique. Since fall 2005, it has guaranteed first-time, in-state students that their tuition rates would be locked in for five years. That program — the CMU Promise — means that the change approved Thursday affects the tuition paid this fall by less than 30% of the university’s students.

For the newest undergrads — be they freshmen or transfer students — however, it means they will pay an average of about $1,590 annually over what last year’s new undergraduates paid.

University spokesman Steve Smith said the increase for the incoming class is 4.2% annually when amortized over five years. But the difference in what students enrolling in fall 2007 would pay for college from those who enrolled in fall 2006 is up from the 17.6% bump 2006 freshmen saw from what 2005 freshmen would pay.

And that leads to a bigger question of whether the CMU Promise would be available for new students who enroll in the spring.

“We hope to continue it. It’s been an incredible success and very popular, but based on the uncertainties of state appropriations in the future, we just don’t know if we’ll be able to,” said Jeff Caponigro, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Contact PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI at 586-469-4681 or pwalsh@freepress.com.

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