ND tuition remains a top concern

North Dakota public colleges and universities are watching – with concern – the roll-out of Minnesota’s free tuition program.

The Minnesota legislature passed what is called “The North Star Promise” – a scholarship program to cover tuition and fees for a Minnesota resident student that comes from a family with income below $80,000. That is a concern for some North Dakota colleges that have a significant number of Minnesota students.

NDSU President David Cook told the North Dakota legislature’s Budget Section his university has come up with what he called a “band aid” type of assistance program, funded by alumni donations, for the next two years. He told the Budget Section the money has been allocated for North Dakota and Minnesota students who meet the North Star criteria.

UND President Andrew Armacost told the Legislators his university has opted not to launch its own program.  “If we were to offer a program like the ‘Promise’ program our model  indicates it would only have a small probability of improving enrollment.  We believe these localized Promise programs may have an effort of increasing the already intense competition among NDSU schools.”

The 2023 Legislature did pass a “tuition freeze” for the colleges.

NDPPR / KNOX