Prairie Public NewsRoom
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Higher Ed budget bill passes Senate

Courtesy ND Legislature

The state Senate has approved the University System’s budget.

It’s a $65 million reduction in general fund spending from the 2015-2017 biennium.

"It's a large decrease," said Sen. Ray Holmberg (R-Grand Forks), the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "But I think with good leadership at the campus level, and at the board level, they can continue to grow."

The bill also caps in-state tuition increases at 3 percent per year for in-state students.  There are three exceptions to that -- the UND Law School, the UND Medical School and the School of Pharmacy at NDSU. Holmberg said for out of state students, the caps are also removed.

"Let the market decide what you are going to ask the Board for permission to do," Holmberg said. "In some areas, the market would say 'Don't ask for more for non-residents.' In other areas, 'Yes -- we can ask an additional one, two or three percent.'"

Holmberg said this doesn't affect the tuition reciprocity agreement with Minnesota.

The bill passed 44 to 1 – and will now be considered in the House.

Related Content