Reciprocity agreement approved

Last update: October 12, 2007 - 11:22 PM

MORRIS, MINN. -- Students who want to take advantage of tuition reciprocity between Minnesota and Wisconsin can rest easier. The program that allows students to cross state lines without having to pay high nonresident tuition rates isn't going anywhere.

On Friday, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents passed the reworked agreement between the two states. It was on the agenda last month, but the September meeting was cut short because of a protest. The agreement has already been approved in Wisconsin and by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Because Wisconsin students crossing into Minnesota paid less in tuition than Minnesota residents, the U of M threatened to pull out of the agreement. (Wisconsin students pay Wisconsin tuition rates to attend Minnesota schools, and vice versa.) The university said it was losing about $7 million a year in tuition.

Beginning with next year's freshman class, Wisconsin residents will be charged the same tuition as Minnesotans. Those students, however, won't experience a financial hit. That is because Wisconsin will pay the difference between its tuition rate and the Minnesota rate. Wisconsin previously paid Minnesota the difference, but that money went into the state's general fund. JEFF SHELMAN

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