By AP
LANSING, MI –
Michigan State University officials are defending their upcoming tuition increase to skeptical state lawmakers.
University officials told a state House subcommittee Thursday that they calculate their tuition increase for the 2011-12 academic year at 6.9 percent. That would keep the university in compliance with a state program aimed at keeping tuition increases under 7.1 percent.
The nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency calculates Michigan State University's tuition increase at 9.4 percent. That would put Michigan State in violation of tuition restraint language and cost the university about $18 million in state aid.
State budget director John Nixon will decide later this year whether the university is in compliance with tuition restraint language.
Michigan State officials say the issue is complicated in part because they suspended part of a tuition increase in 2010-11.