Because some institutions rely more heavily on tuition, increasing rates for out-of-state students and graduate programs vary. For instance, an out-of-state student at UMBC won't see an increase in tuition next year, but another out-of-state student at University of Maryland University College will see a 5.2 percent increase.
As for graduate programs, students at the Maryland School of Law will have a $2,348 increase or 7.1 percent while School of Medicine students will have a 6 percent increase or $1,395 in 2009.
While in-state undergraduates have enjoyed a single, flat rate for tuition, the board is apprehensive about predicting costs for students in coming years.
FOR THE RECORD - An article in yesterday's Maryland section incorrectly reported tuition increases for the University of Maryland's law and medical schools for fiscal 2009.
Law school tuition will rise $1,395 for in-state and out-of-state students. Medical school tuition will rise $1,673 for in-state students and $2,348 for out-of-state students.
The Sun regrets the errors.
"The board really wants to be able to tell an incoming freshman what cost they should expect for the next four years, just for family planning, that is our desire," said Clifford M. Kendall, chair for the Board of Regents. "Now because of economic conditions, political processes and so many other things that affect this, we cannot really project adequately."
While O'Malley supported the increased state funding this year, cost increases loom in the future for new students.
"We don't want higher education to suffer," Kendall said, adding that future increases might be necessary to maintain quality and they'd be kept as low as possible.
The University System of Maryland consists of 11 schools, two research facilities and two regional higher education centers. Of the 137,000 students enrolled at these state institutions, 80,000 are in-state, undergraduate students, Buettner said.
Del. Adrienne A. Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said she hoped the legislature would be able to continue to freeze tuition increases. "It would be great if in the governor's four-year term that tuitions did not increase," Jones said. "If at all possible, we'd like to do that, but until we know what the economic situation is, it's hard to tell."
