KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Western Michigan University students will get an idea of how much more they will be paying for tuition this fall when trustees meet Wednesday to set next year’s budget.
Gov. Rick Snyder signed the education budget on Monday, which increases funding for universities by $40 million this year. That will still leave six universities, including Western Michigan University, receiving less in state aid than they received after Snyder came into office and slashed education funding in 2011.
Western is in good company. The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Eastern Michigan University and Oakland University will also be getting less from Lansing than they did six years ago despite wage hikes, inflation, higher costs for medical insurance and other expenses.
Over the years, that has shifted more of the burden onto students, either through higher tuition, diminished services or both.
The state budget bill caps tuition hikes at 4.2 percent this year.
