For the Record: Non-resident U of Minnesota tuition to be raised: Better late than never?

This topic has been covered on numerous occasions both on The Periodic Table, as well as the Star-Tribune.

From The  Periodic Table:

State Rep Blows Whistle on Out of State Tuition Giveaway  January 10, 2013

This post contains links to background information


From the Star-Tribune:

University of Minnesota Has Lowest Out of State Tuition for BigTen Publics October 30, 2010

Today the Star-Tribune reported on plans at the University of Minnesota to fix what is obviously another money sink at the U, by finally attempting to set out of state tuition at the median of that charged by BigTen schools, instead of current bargain basement prices, e.g.

What follows are some selected quotations from the Star-Tribune.  Please see the complete article for more information.

After years with the lowest rates in the Big Ten, the University of Minnesota is considering raising tuition for nonresident students by $12,800, more than 60 percent, by the end of the decade.

Kaler has been under increasing pressure from lawmakers and other critics who say the current rates favor nonresidents at the expense of students from Minnesota. At the U, in-state students pay $13,380 a year in tuition and fees, a higher rate than half the Big Ten schools.

State Rep. Bob Barrett, who has called for a significant increase in the rate for out-of-state students, said that Kaler’s proposal is a start. “Nonresident tuition has been and currently is way too low,” said Barrett, a Republican from Lindstrom who sits on the House higher education committee.


But he said raising that rate is just the first step. “They need to use that money to lower resident tuition,” he said. “They have an opportunity with these millions and millions of dollars they’ll receive from nonresidents, and they need to apply it to resident tuition.”


University spokesman Steve Henneberry said that “any extra funds would be used to minimize in-state tuition increases.”

“I think being at the bottom, in terms of sticker price, hurts us,” said Regent Michael Hsu. “We’ve got to be concerned with our brand. … Otherwise, we’re talking about Lexus and Toyota. And we’re Toyota.”