ND lawmakers examine MN’s new tuition program

An interim Legislative committee has begun looking at how North Dakota should respond to a new higher education tuition program in Minnesota.

Under the “North Star Promise” program, Minnesota students whose families earn under $80,000 a year would be able to attend a Minnesota public college tuition free.

North Dakota universities are concerned because of the number of Minnesota students that make show up on campus.

UND President Andrew Aramacost told the interim Higher Education Committee the issue is larger than just the Minnesota program.  “You see the enrollment trends predicted over time.  This is going to be decades in the making.  We need to position ourselves smartly not just by reacting to what we are seeing across the border but anticipating what the challenges will be over a long period of time.”

NDSU President David Cook told the Committee it is also a workforce issue – because a number of the students from Minnesota stay in North Dakota.

There had been some discussion of a special session to look at the issue – but that has not yet been decided.

Percentage of MN enrollment:

NDSU……45%
UND…….28%
MSU…….14%

NDPPR/KNOX