Southwestern Oklahoma State University students will pay more tuition and fees during the 2020-21 academic year after the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education on Wednesday approved an increase for the 2020-21 academic year.

Throughout the state of Oklahoma, tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students will increase an average of 1.3%. That means around $80 more for every Oklahoma college student during Fall 2020 and Spring 2021.

However, according to the Weatherford Daily News, SWOSU students can expect to see an increase of 3%. This results in an increase of tuition payments of more than $90 for 15 credit hours. Combined with mandatory fees, the increase reaches $110.

WDN reported SWOSU President Randy Beutler requested the 3% increase after presenting the university’s budget. Due to reduced federal funding, a 3.95% budget cut from the state legislature last year, as well as financial shortfalls due to Covid-19, the university budget decreased by $1.2 million for the 2020-21 school year.

As of now, the budget cuts will not affect parts of SWOSU other than personnel acquisitions. “I am not aware of any potential cuts to specific departments or campus programs,” Brian Adler, Public Relations and Marketing director, said.

The University of Oklahoma, Norman, and Oklahoma State University, Stillwater and Tulsa, will not increase tuition and mandatory fees in 2020-21, according to WDN. Other regional universities, on the other hand, such as Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Langston University, requested increases similar to SWOSU.

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