Regents approve first tuition rate increase in five years

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ABERDEEN, SD (KELO.com) — Now it’s official.  The South Dakota Board of Regents approved a 2.9-percent tuition rate hike today…after five consecutive years of holding tuition steady.  Regents’ Executive Director Nathan Lukkes says it’s a delicate balance between affordability and maintaining quality programs for students.  Regents President Tim Rave says South Dakota’s public universities are still among the most affordable in the nation.  During the time period tuition rates were frozen in South Dakota, universities in neighboring states increased rates by double digits, which led to strong enrollment growth in South Dakota.