ST. CLOUD — St. Cloud State University is going ahead with efforts to attract a wider range of students, a recent plan to reverse declining enrollment. But some student activists say a newly announced tuition hike isn’t going to help.
The school has come under financial strain in recent years as declining tuition revenue, mixed with lower state financial support, has tightened its budget. Student enrollment has dropped by one-fourth since its high in 2010. State funding for the school continues to sag compared to two decades ago.
St. Cloud State is set for a 4.2% tuition hike next fall, part of increases across the Minnesota State college and university system officials say are necessary to cover costs. But rising costs have upset some student advocates, who say students are unfairly bearing the budget burden. tuition hike isn’t going to help.
