St. Mary’s College Announces No Mid-Year Tuition Hike Amid State Budget Cuts
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the state’s public liberal arts college, has announced it will not increase its tuition mid-year. This announcement comes after the news of a state budget cut to higher education aimed at addressing the $410 million state budget shortfall this year.
“The decision to raise tuition under any circumstance is difficult, but to do so mid-year can be very difficult for families,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Gary Sherman. “Raising tuition mid-year is not something we are considering.”
Over the past three years, St. Mary’s College has done its part not to raise tuition costs. Maryland residents received a tuition freeze in 2013 and saw their tuition cut by 8.6 percent in 2014. In December, the St. Mary’s College Board of Trustees voted not to increase tuition once again for fall 2015. Tuition for out-of-state students has also not increased for the past two years. The in-state tuition for fall 2015 ($11,150) is now below 2010 levels, affirming that St. Mary’s College president, Dr. Tuajuanda Jordan, is steadfast in her commitment to ensure that Maryland’s public honors college is within the reach of all qualified students.
College officials believe they can hold the line against a mid-year tuition without adversely affecting academic funding, eliminating jobs, or putting additional pressure on students to pay more. Dr. Jordan said, “Finding the resources necessary to absorb this budget cut will not be easy, but we will get it done without harm to our mission and without placing an unexpected burden on our students. Kiplinger magazine has consistently named St. Mary’s College as one of the best educational values in the nation; we are going to continue to live up to that.”
Related articles:
“Why St. Mary’s College of Md. is sticking with its big tuition cut” The Washington Post, 2015 Feb. 3
“St. Mary’s College vows no tuition increases” The Baltimore Sun, 2015 Jan. 21