By Carrie Pond
Murray, KY – Kentucky's public universities will be limited on how high they can raise tuition for the upcoming academic year. The state Council on Postsecondary Education set tuition ceilings during its meeting today, including a four percent limit for undergraduate tuition at regional comprehensive universities like Murray State. Assistant Vice President of Communications Catherine Sivills says budget work has already begun. She says the tuition cap gives officials a rough idea on how much wiggle room they'll have.
"We've all had to cut our budgets, and it's a tough time of year. However, on the opposite, our customers are also feeling the strain. But it is a challenging year; it's going to be a challenging year."
Sivills says during an April meeting the Board of Regents could vote for a smaller tuition increase than the 4 percent cutoff. She says until then, it's uncertain what cuts the university will have to make or if it can afford to provide raises to faculty and staff.