Huge Tuition Hike Possible At U Of I

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Mar 2, 2010 10:40PM

The State of Illinois' budget problems are spreading to the University of Illinois which could see a tuition hike of as much as 20 percent for incoming freshman next year. The state owes the school almost $500 million, according to interim school president Stanley Ikenberry.

Ikenberry said the U of I must weigh social policy, the importance of keeping the flagship university open to lower- and middle-income students, as well as competitiveness with other institutions, in setting its tuition rates....

For the first time, tuition and fees account for more of the U of I's funding than state aid, Ikenberry said.

"Students and parents are the only thing keeping our heads above water," he said.

Ikenberry is hoping the state provides some of the money it owes the school so it can avoid having to borrow money. Still, he's pushing to have U of I included in a bill before the State Senate that, according to WBBM, "would let universities borrow against tuition income or expected state appropriations because of the state's financial crisis."