Tuition at MD state schools could see a hike in 2016

Salisbury University, and other public higher learning institutions across Maryland are requesting a two percent tuition increase to the university system board of regents.

The board of regents sets tuition for state universities.

This coming after Gov. Larry Hogan’s budget passed this week and allotted for that tuition hike.

Salisbury officials said the increase would have been three percent, but Hogan added in funding in the budget to pay for that one percent difference.

Interim Vice President of Administration and Finance at Salisbury University, Marvin Pyles, said that the tuition hikes are needed to keep up with the cost of living, utilities and services.

Pyles said the additional money brought in will also help with the new Guerrierri commons building, which will replace the university’s existing library.

“Going from a library which is 50,000 square feet, to a new commons, which is 217,000 square feet, that building alone requires about a half a million dollars just in utilities to run that larger building,” Pyles said.

Tuition will be officially set later this month.

Officials said last year Maryland public universities and colleges had a five percent tuition increase.