By Bryan Navarro
June 23, 2011
ASHLAND, Ore. -- State money for universities is dropping 14% for the fiscal year.
To make up that budget gap, tuition will be going up 6.3% at Southern Oregon University.
University officials say 20 years ago, two thirds of college budgets came from the state. Now, it's only one third.
SOU administrators say today's state funding level reflects reality in the current economy. For state universities, state money is looking meager. In the coming fiscal year, the seven Oregon universities will receive a total of $708 million, down from the prior budget of $832 million.
Next year, SOU's tuition will go up 6.3%. RCC is also increasing tuition this fall, charging an extra 10 dollars per credit - a 13% increase.
Senate Bill 242 would change the current system, where lawmakers budget 5000 line items. Instead, the university system would receive a single grant.
The bill has passed in the Senate and is expected to pass the house soon. SOU's tuition increase, again 6.3%, is lower than the average across all state universities at seven and a half percent.