“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” -Derek Bok
With the University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ vote yesterday, the tuition freeze for in-state undergraduates received its final stamp of approval for the coming year. The regents’ 15-1 vote means students avoid an increase for the third straight year.
At least, that’s after they pay for the hikes in room, board and parking, none of which are funded by the state. And of course, out-of-state students, graduate students and part-time students will pay more in tuition costs next year.
We wholeheartedly stand behind the idea of the tuition freeze. During the governorship of Robert Ehrlich, tuition hikes of 10 percent or more became the norm in Annapolis. Gov. Martin O’Malley’s dedication to keeping the cost of higher education down keeps it accessible to middle- and lower-income students in Maryland.
But at the end of the day, will students actually reap the benefits of the static tuition rate?
In-state tuition will stay frozen at last year’s annual cost of $6,566. However, the cost of housing will increase by 2.2 percent, food by 3.9 percent and parking by 4 percent. The net change of these costs for an in-state on-campus resident with a car total $271, or the equivalent of a 4.1 percent tuition hike.
This is not to diminish the accomplishment of the state officials in Annapolis or the Board of Regents in their efforts to keep the financial burden on students low. But the increases in room, board and parking fees, as well tuition for out-of-state, part-time and graduate students, means the window of access to higher education will still get smaller next year.
