By KRWG News
New Mexico – A tuition increase of 8.6 percent is not unreasonable according to the president of the University of New Mexico.
David Schmidly says UNM is like the Walmart of flagship universities.
In other budget-related news, UNM would cover the 1.75% increase in employee pension contributions approved by the state legislature.
The Albuquerque Journal reports an 8.6 percent increase in tuition and fees would cost an average full-time undergraduate about $475 next year, for a total annual cost of $5,980.
UNM officials had said the tuition hike next year was proposed at about 8 percent.
Documents released Thursday show that figure at 8.6 percent. That amount would be the last piece in balancing UNM's budget for next year under the president's recommendations.
At least one regent says he wants to see more cuts considered so students would pay less. The proposal goes to regents Monday.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.