For the first time in 15 years, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University will not be increasing tuition for the next school year.
Citing the recession and the difficulties it has created for Oklahoma families, the presidents of the state's two research universities said they were determined to keep tuition and mandatory fees level for the 2009-10 school year.
The universities have been trying to cut costs and avoid the worst of the economic downturn for the past year. OU instituted a hiring freeze and delayed bonds for new construction. OSU also has put projects on hold, and its foundation cut staff and closed two satellite offices in Texas.
The tuition announcements came days after the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approved a state allocation of about $1.02 billion, up 3 percent from last year because of $69 million in stimulus money.
Pending approval by higher education governing boards, the cost for a full year of in-state tuition for undergraduate students will be $6,493 for OU and $6,201 for OSU.
Presidents of public universities and colleges in the state agreed earlier this year to freeze tuition and fees as long as at least $80.4 million was allocated for basic operations.
"All of us understand that students and their families need as much relief as possible during this time of national economic crisis," OU President David Boren said in a statement from the university. "Our board of regents has always sought to keep student costs as low as possible consistent with educational excellence."
OU's cost-cutting measures have saved the university more than $8 million, according to the statement.
The official tuition recommendation will be put before the OU Board of Regents on July 24, and OSU's board will hear its request June 19.
"We appreciate our state leaders' commitment to higher education in the midst of this year's budget challenges," OSU President Burns Hargis said in a statement. "We will not be seeking any increase in tuition and mandatory fees for our students, while continuing OSU's land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach for the citizens of Oklahoma."
In the past five years, the costs to attend OU and OSU have gone up more than $2,000, but the universities still have the lowest attendance costs in the Big 12. The increases have been more than 9 percent each in the past two years. Costs went up more than 25 percent for the 2003-04 school year.
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