Nebraska Board of Regents considering 5% tuition increase in proposed budget

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is considering a tuition increase this year.

The proposed 2025-26 budget includes a 5% tuition hike, along with nearly $20 million in spending cuts.

The tuition increase and proposed budget cuts follow a 0.625% increase in state appropriations, which is significantly lower than the 3.5% request submitted by the Board of Regents.

In a document explaining the budget, the board said inflation, along with state and federal funding challenges “will require all academic and business units to reprioritize their spending to manage inflationary increases and funding reductions.”

The Board of Regents said even with this increase, the NU system’s tuition rates would remain low compared with its peers.

“Affordability and accessibility remain the University’s top priority, and this increase, which averages to be a 5% increase over the prior year, will ensure Nebraska’s tuition rates remain low when compared to peers and others across the country,” the regents said.