Don’t let the tuition freeze thaw: Legislate budget raise

It’s uncomfortable to go shopping and find no tags on the items — that blouse might be $20, but it could also be $50. Either way, you don’t want to discover the price at the counter once you’ve already committed to the purchase. 

Similarly, state university tuition freezes don’t necessarily tell you what your education’s final price tag will ring up as for that year. In a tuition freeze climate, students might commit to a school with the understanding they’d pay one price, but end up being charged more if the freeze thaws.

The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education last Thursday narrowly approved Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tuition freeze for the 2015-2016 school year. A tuition freeze keeps the 14 state-owned universities at a stagnant price. On Thursday, Wolf applauded the board for approving the freeze. Wolf said the tuition freeze was contingent on his plan to increase budgets for state-owned schools by 11 percent. 

If lawmakers approve Wolf’s $45.3 million budget increase, it will be the largest increase in the State System of Higher Education’s history. However, in a Republican-controlled climate, debate stirs over whether legislators will approve the increase for the first time in seven years. Without this funding increase, the tuition freeze could thaw at any time.

An unexpected price increase partway through the school year — a potential pitfall if the legislators do not approve the budget increase — could mean some students will not be able to afford their school of choice anymore, knocking them out of college. 

Currently, in-state tuition at Pennsylvania state-owned universities — such as Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and California University of Pennsylvania — is about $6,820, plus fees that range from $1,672 to $2,546. With the approved tuition freeze, students can expect to pay this price in the fall term. 

This figure is not explicit, though. If the schools don’t receive the budget increase Wolf is advocating for, they could raise the price.

“We don’t want to have to go back and tell our students and our parents, ‘Oops, we made a mistake’ and look like idiots,” board Chairman Guido Pichini told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

It’s imperative that students have an accurate idea of the price they will pay for the academic school year so they can align their expectations with their finances and aid packages. The only way students know the cost of tuition is through their University bills. If the board reserves the right to pull the price freeze at the last minute, students can’t even rely on these prices released by their school. There should be clear disclaimers on students’ applications or other materials that a student must sign before committing.

In addition to the state-owned tution freeze, Wolf is asking state-affiliated universities like Pitt, Pennsylvania State University and Temple University to keep their tuition as low as possible. State Rep. Michael Hanna told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that a tuition freeze would increase the liklihood of the legislature passing the budget.  Still, there’s no concensus on whether these schools will freeze tuition, but Penn State President Eric Barron said he would support it — contingent on the budget increase.

Pennsylvania’s greatest potential college budget increase is looming on the horizon, and we hope to see it materialize. Legislators must approve Wolf’s vision to create change.  

Let’s hope this blouse fits like a dream and costs $20 rather than $50.