For University students, the most apparent effect of stimulus funding has been the cap on tuition increases for in-state undergraduate students. Over the biennium, tuition rates for in-state undergrads have risen 15 percent, but because of the stimulus relief, those students paid only half, or 7.5 percent, of that increase. If the trend of decreased state funding continues as expected, tuition may rise further. However, even if tuition rates remained the same, fall 2011 tuition would increase $744 to $11,094 in the absence of stimulus dollars.
In total, the University devoted 52 percent of the stimulus to offsetting tuition increases. The other 48 percent is funding one-time projects and grants delaying or avoiding layoffs.
