Subcommittee approves amendment to freeze college costs in North Dakota

Bismarck, North Dakota – An amendment to the higher education budget plan that freezes tuition at the 11 public colleges and universities in the state has the support of the House Appropriations’ North Dakota Education and Environment subcommittee.

Instead, the cost of what would have been a two-year tuition hike of 4% will be covered by the state. It will set you back $47 million.

Rep. Mike Nathe, a Republican from Bismarck, serves as its chairman.

“I think it’s a great message to send to our kids, to the parents and students,” Nathe said. “We find ourselves in a financial situation where we can do this. We just have to make sure we do it correctly and it doesn’t come back to bite us.”

High-priced programs on campus would be subject to a slight tuition hike.

Later, the amendment will be reviewed by the full Appropriations Committee.