College tuition is going up in Kansas on all public university campuses. Operating costs are escalating, and higher education is faced with new Department of Labor overtime rules, a volatile employment market, and inflation—unfortunately, we experience that in many of the things we purchase on a regular basis.
Earlier this month, Kansas’ six public universities presented their proposed tuition and fee schedule for 2024-25 to the Kansas Board of Regents. Fort Hays State University, which has a long history of commitment to affordability, stood out from the rest with a proposed 6 percent increase. Before casting dispersions on the university for what many see as a big jump, it is important to know the rest of the story. A fuller story that was not reported in the media.
• Annual tuition for a full-time student at Fort Hays State would be $5,924, almost half the national average for public universities
• The proposed tuition at Fort Hays, even with the 6 percent increase, is still 35 percent less than the Kansas average for public universities
• In preparing the tuition proposal, the university looked at market trends and institutional needs believed essential to maintaining the balance between affordability and quality, long the hallmarks of a Fort Hays State education.
A commitment to accessibility and excellence guide Fort Hays State University leadership in important decisions concerning the cost of a university education. The tuition proposal presented to the Kansas Board of Regents will allow the university to continue its commitment to offering the best value in higher education in Kansas, something we all can support.
— Janis K. Lee, retired Kansas state senator