South Dakota Board of Regents vote to increase tuition 3.4%

The South Dakota Board of Regents approved a tuition and fee increase that averages 3.4% for the coming year. That’s just over $300 per year.

Regents President Kevin Schieffer says setting tuition is always a balancing act. He says the adjustment attempts to keep cost to students as low as possible.

The Regents say the state covers less than half the cost of the salary and benefit package for employees in the public university system, so tuition and fees must be increased to cover the rest.

In addition, South Dakota State University requested and was granted a $2.70 per credit hour tuition increase for all on-campus credits to support student activities.

On average, an in-state undergraduate student taking 30 credit hours next year will pay just over $9,250 for tuition and mandatory fees.