Governor Dave Heineman, University of Nebraska President J-B Milliken, and Nebraska State College System Chancellor Stan Carpenter have announced a 2-year tuition freeze for in-state students at all 4 university campuses and the 3 state colleges…if the legislature approves Heineman’s plan to increase state funding for higher education.

The 3 men unveiled the tuition freeze proposal at a news conference this morning. Heineman told the news conference that it’s vital for Nebraskans to continue to have access to affordable higher education if the state’s economy is remain vital in the future.

Announcement of the tuition freeze comes two days before the opening of the 2013 legislative session and 8 days before the governor presents his budget package to lawmakers, which will include $541-million dollars for the university…an increase of $43-million over the past 2 years…and $49.6-million for the state colleges..up $4.1-million.

Milliken and Carpenter said the average student at each of their schools will save about $1,000 during the two years of the freeze, and that it should boost enrollment.  Heineman was also optimistic that the tuition freeze will lead more Nebraskans to stay in the state for college.

Carpenter said the state colleges fill a vital role in making sure rural Nebraskans have access to an affordable college education, but also play a vital role in their parts of the state…making the tuition freeze important to everyone, not just those looking to go to college.

Governor Heineman didn’t how he would fund the freeze with a projected $200 million budget shortfall, but did remind reporters that the shortfall is just a projection and that the state “didn’t have any problem” handling a $1 billion budget shortfall two years ago. He also said details would be in his budget proposal next Tuesday.