Tuition will remain the same at Missouri State University-West Plains during the 2014-’15 academic year.
At their annual spring retreat March 6-7 in St. Louis, members of the MSU Board of Governors approved a resolution from the West Plains campus setting tuition at $114 per credit hour, the same as the current academic year. Tuition for out-of-state residents also will remain the same at $228 per credit hour. Tuition is lower for Missouri residents because Missouri State-West Plains is a state-assisted institution, university officials explained.
“At Missouri State-West Plains, we are committed to keeping higher education affordable for our students while providing a quality education,” said Chancellor Drew Bennett. “We feel that the combination of holding tuition flat this year and the recent national recognition of our academic programs provides area residents an outstanding value when cost and quality are considered.”
Last fall, Washington Monthly magazine, a Washington D.C.-based publication, ranked Missouri State-West Plains sixth in the nation in its ‘Best Community Colleges’ category for offering a quality, affordable education to all students.
The resolution approved by the board also outlined other fees charged by the university, and they will remain the same, as well. The fee charged for courses in the Associate of Science in Nursing degree program will stay at $145 per credit hour for Missouri residents and $290 for non-residents. Fees for courses in the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care program will remain at $137 per credit hour for Missouri residents and $274 per credit hour for non-residents. The cost of taking online courses will stay at $129 per credit hour for Missouri residents and non-residents. Students taking courses through the campus’ high school dual credit program will pay $57 per credit hour, the same as this year.
University officials explained the fee structure for nursing, respiratory care and online courses are different than that for other classes due to the additional costs associated in providing these programs. High school dual credit courses are offered at half the rate of normal tuition.
Students staying in the Grizzly House residence hall, however, will see an increase in room and board. Those fees will go up from $2,700 per semester for housing and a 20-meal-per-week plan at the Putnam Student Center cafeteria to $2,740 per semester in 2014-’15. Summer charges will increase from $1,150 to $1,170.
For more information about tuition and student fees, contact the Missouri State-West Plains business office at 417-255-7260.