Kansas Tuition

At a time when most households are suffering in a weak economy with record gas prices, four-year universities in Kansas are again proposing to raise tuition. Most want to raise costs to students more than the rate of inflation, with some increases in the 6- to 8-percent range.

Kansas citizens already subsidize these campuses with their taxes. So one question that should be asked is why aren't the larger increases falling on out-of-state students. Out-of state students at Kansas State would see the biggest increases, but Wichita State is proposing a 5.9 percent increase for Kansas students, and only a 5 percent increase for out-of-state students.

Kansas families are being forced to make hard choices about what they can and cannot afford. State and local governments and state-supported universities should be doing the same. They should be looking for ways to reduce expenses, instead of passing higher costs along to struggling Kansas families.

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