Wright State could increase tuition by 6 percent

Wright State University may increase the cost of tuition by 6 percent if a proposal for a tuition guarantee program is implemented.

The program, which locks in tuition for four years for a freshman, serves as something of a loophole that allows public universities to increase tuition despite a state mandated tuition freeze that is in its fifth year. The proposal presented to Wright State's board of trustees on Friday morning would increase tuition for all in-state students from $4,365 to $4,627.

» RELATED: Wright State students could get a tuition guarantee in 2018

Tuition at Wright State’s Lake Campus would increase from $2,921 to $3,097 which also amounts to an 6 percent increase, according to the proposal. Out-of-state students would also see tuition rise by 6 percent according to a plan proposal.

With tuition guarantee programs, the state limits any rate hike to 6 percent, meaning WSU would be increasing by the maximum amount.

If approved by the full WSU board of trustees and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the increase would go into effect in 2018. After the first year of a tuition guarantee program and initial tuition increase, the state allows public universities to increase the price of tuition at the rate of inflation.

» RELATED: UD’s tuition guarantee program pays off four years later

Most recently, Ohio State University launched a tuition guarantee program this past fall. Upon creating its program, OSU hike tuition by 5.5 percent.

Both the University of Dayton and Miami University have similar tuition programs in place. UD implemented its program back in 2013, making it the first area school to do so.

Though the programs are sometimes criticized as being more of a marketing tool than a solution to high costs, UD reported that it helped boost graduation rates and lower student debt.

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