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Gov. Wolf asks state universities to freeze tuition in the fall

For the first time in years the cost of tuition for state run universities may stay stagnant. That is, if the legislature agrees with Governor Wolf. Wolf is cal...
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For the first time in years the cost of tuition for state run universities may stay stagnant. That is, if the legislature agrees with Governor Wolf. Wolf is calling on Pennsylvania’s public universities to freeze tuition in the fall.

Wolf’s budget proposal increases funding for public universities by $45 million. If approved it would be the largest increase the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has ever received.

“We’re very very pleased that the governor came out very strong in support of public higher education,” said Kenn Marshall, the spokesman for PASSHE.

Marshall says right now state schools are receiving $412 million a year, the same amount they received in 1997.

“It’s been a struggle for our universities, they’ve worked very hard to contain costs to cut their budgets actually,” said Marshall.

Wolf says the potential increases come with strings attached. He asked all 14 state run universities to freeze tuition in the fall.

“And I expect them to answer that call,” said Wolf.

Marshall says the board of directors will try to do that if the state system received the money Wolf promised. On average it costs students who live in Pennsylvania $17,000 to $18,000 a year to attend a school like Millersville. Students say freezing tuition won’t just help them, but their parents, too.

“I feel like a lot of kids are nervous about going to college because of all the money, like we freak out about loans and after college we need a job to pay off the loans so if we could freeze them and hold them at a decent price it could benefit everyone,” said freshman student, Melissa Glickman.

Glickman says her dad is paying for half of her schooling. She’s taking out loans to pay the other half. But, she has friends who can’t afford it anymore.

“My one roommate is actually transferring to save money and going to community college because it’s so expensive,” said Glickman.

Glickman hopes the legislature sticks to Gov. Wolf’s proposal so that she and her friends can enjoy college together.

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