UNK officials say proposed NU tuition freeze fits goal of affordability

KEARNEY, NE — Costs are rising for just about everything right now, but leaders at the University of Nebraska don’t want tuition to mirror inflation.

University President Ted Carter has proposed a new budget that includes a tuition freeze, a welcome development for officials at the University’s Kearney campus.

“That in and of itself is great news for students as well as Nebraskans because it helps make sure that students are staying in Nebraska and choosing University of Nebraska as their place of attendance."

Kelly Bartling is the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Marketing at UNK. She says prospective students and their families make their college choice largely based on quality and affordability. Steady tuition rates help recruitment.

“When we have the ability to talk to them about affordability and about the value of UNK, that eases that conversation into them wanting to attend here,” Bartling said.

UNK has already been working the cost of attendance angle. It claims to be the state’s most affordable university and is doubling down on its out-of-state recruitment. It launched the New Nebraskan program last year, which offers a scholarship reducing undergrad costs to the in-state rates for all Americans.

“We need more people in Nebraska," Bartling said. "The New Nebraskan scholarship is one of our ways we’re looking at to meet that challenge. We see it being highly successful.”

UNK is betting on gaining more out-of-state students to offset the loss of dollars paid per student. Bartling is happy with the results so far, citing a 70 percent increase in out-of-state freshmen last year.

The efforts coincide with pandemic-weary students looking again for a traditional collegiate experience.

“Thankfully, because of this intended tuition freeze, we’re making it easier for students and their families to have that experience they’re looking for,” Bartling said.

The budget proposal including the tuition freeze goes before the Board of Regents on Thursday. If passed, this would mark the second straight year without an increase.