The New Mexico State University Board of Regents voted today raise tuition 8 percent for in-state undergrads and 10.1 percent for non-resident undergrads.
That amounts to $201 more per semester for full-time, resident undergraduate students and $765 more per semester for non-resident undergrads. The regents also raised tuition on graduate students – 8.3 percent, or $222 per semester, for resident students and 10 percent, or $777 per semester, for non-resident students.
The increases were necessary, according to a news release from the university, to help offset a reduction in state funding. State funding for NMSU’s main campus in Las Cruces was cut by 9.8 percent, or $12.3 million, this year. According to the release, that was the largest state funding reduction for any four-year institution in New Mexico.
“This has been a challenging financial situation requiring bold action to fulfill our fundamental promise of excellence to our students,” NMSU President Barbara Couture said in the release.
She added that cuts will still be necessary and will be “achieved through central and departmental budget cuts and allocations.”
NMSU community college will see tuition increases as well – 9.5 percent at NMSU Alamogordo, 7.5 percent at Doña Ana Community College and 6.9 percent at NMSU Grants. There’s no increase at NMSU Carlsbad for “in-district residents,” the release states.
The regents also voted to increase housing rates and meal plans 3 percent. And they raised parking fees by 17 cents per month for students and 29 cents per month for most employees.