University of Minnesota leaders are considering creating a tuition-free program as soon as next year for state students whose families make $50,000 or less annually.
The proposal, part of President Joan Gabel's strategic plan for the flagship university, will be discussed by the Board of Regents on Friday. It's similar to a plan from President-elect Joe Biden to make four-year public colleges tuition-free for students whose families earn $125,000 or less per year.
"It's tuition for free. So, if they have other expenses … there could be other financial aid for that. But the part that we would guarantee in the program that we're working on is the tuition," Gabel said. The plan would apply to Minnesota students at the U's five campuses.
Undergraduate students from Minnesota and neighboring states pay about $15,000 per year in tuition and fees at the U's Twin Cities campus. That doesn't include room and board, which can cost up to $10,000 for students living in campus residence halls.
A U spokeswoman noted that students whose families make $50,000 per year or less already have most of their tuition covered by a mix of need-based scholarships and state and federal grants. Gabel's proposal would commit the university to covering any remaining tuition costs for these students. It's not clear yet how many students would benefit.
Documents submitted to the Board of Regents indicate the U administration wants to establish the tuition-free program by 2021. The board would decide whether to create the program and set the income threshold, Gabel said.
Regent Mike Kenyanya praised the U administration for targeting the tuition program to Minnesota students. The proposal is a "great start" in addressing college affordability, he said.
"While I'm proud … about the global reach and impact, we are the University of Minnesota and I think that's what the Minnesota families, state leadership and taxpayers expect of that," Kenyanya said.
