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COLUMBIA, MO -- The University of Missouri will recommend an average tuition and fee increase of 5.5% for in-state students next school year.

For the first time ever, the Board of Curators will consider separate increases for each campus.

Here’s how the proposed increases break down for each of the system’s four campuses:

-Columbia: 5.8%

-Rolla: 6.6%

-St. Louis: 4.7%

-Kansas City: 4.8%

“We wish we could continue to hold the line on tuition and fees as we have for the past two years,” said Steve Owens, interim president of the University of Missouri system.  “But even with the increases we will recommend to the curators, the proposed 7% cut in state appropriations will leave about a $42 million shortfall for the University—and that’s after we cut an additional $11.3M in efficiencies that we identified in the process of planning for next year’s budget.“

Earlier this month at his State of the State address, Gov. Nixon proposed the 7% cut to UM System funding.

For the past 2 years, the governor has had a deal with the state’s public universities. If they didn’t increase tuition, he wouldn’t cut their funding. That will not happen for the 2011-2012 school year.

“State funding for this university has declined steadily over the past decade,” Owens added.

The university system has added 17,000 students in that time, while state support per student has dropped 28%. In dollars, that translates to $10,462 in funder to $7,510.

“At a time when Missouri seeks to grow its economy and depends on an educated workforce and more jobs, and America faces intensifying global competition, we urge Missourians to carefully consider the importance of investing in education, and viewing it as a solution, not as a cost,” Owens said.

The curators will discuss and vote on the proposed increase this Thursday and Friday in Columbia.

If approved, the increase would begin this summer.

In-state University of Missouri students would pay, on average, $8,903 per year depending on which campus they choose.

What do you think of the proposed tuition increase?  Is it too much or not enough?  Do you think it will discourage students from attending one of the 4 campuses?

Leave your comments below and vote in our online poll.