Higher Ed. Presidents pleased that legislature giving serious thought to tuition freeze

Bismarck, North Dakota – The presidents of North Dakota’s public colleges and universities express their excitement at the Legislature’s potential consideration of tuition freezing.

They claim that would aid in bringing in and keeping out-of-state students, particularly those from Minnesota.

Incentives to keep students in Minnesota are being considered by the legislature.

According to Rod Flanagan, president of North Dakota State College of Science, around 22% of the students at the Wahpeton institution are from Minnesota. He stated that the tuition freeze will benefit the university.

“I’m optimistic,” Flanagan said. “The Legislature has been good to us.”

The president of the University of North Dakota, Andrew Armacost, expressed his concern over Minnesota’s strong efforts to discourage students from attending UND. A third of the students at UND, according to him, are from Minnesota.

“I think the tuition freeze, from the consumer’s perspective, is very good,” Armacost said. “My question is whether or a not a future, more aggressive stance by Minnesota would be necessary. Let’s hope not.”

53% of his students, according to NDSU President David Cook, are from Minnesota.

“So anything like tuition freezes works for us,” Cook said.

The House has approved the tuition freeze, and the Senate will now review it. It costs $47 million to buy.