There was some potentially great news for students at Missouri universities and community colleges Monday.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says he’s reached a deal with higher education officials in the state to freeze tuition for next year.
Nixon says he is recommending $55 million more in performance funding for higher education next fiscal year. That's a 6 percent increase and would bring total state higher education funding to $985 million next fiscal year.
Of course, the General Assembly and college boards must approve the plan.
Performance funding is awarded based on student retention, graduation rates and other measures.
College and university leaders agreed to set aside more than $9 million of that money to science, technology, engineering and math programs.
Nixon says this is the fourth time since 2009 that Missouri has been able to freeze tuition year-to-year.
Last year, the UM system school raised tuition 0.8 percent.
Contrast that to Board of Regent schools in Kansas which hiked tuition and fees 3.6 percent this school year.
