For Release December 11, 1998
Board Hears Student Costs at Public Institutions Regional Survey Results
ABERDEEN-At its regular business meeting, held on the campus of Northern State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents received a report on the annual survey of student costs at public higher education institutions in this region. The survey looked at student costs at all four-year public institutions in the states surrounding South Dakota, which include Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Idaho was also included in the survey because of its economic and rural similarities.
"This survey serves as an effective tool in evaluating our effort to provide quality education at a reasonable price," said Board of Regents President James O. Hansen. "By looking at total costs of tuition, fees, room and board, we get a better idea of what it costs a student to attend a state university in this area."
The Student Costs at Public Institutions Regional Survey for academic year 1998-99 showed that total cost average for undergraduate residents in South Dakota public universities equaled $5,927. South Dakota ranked third lowest for total costs among survey cohorts with the regional average being $6,250. The regional total cost average for graduate residents was $6,683. South Dakota’s total cost average was much lower at $5,933, the second lowest in the regional survey. Total cost includes tuition and mandatory fees, room, and meal costs.
"Overall I am very pleased with the results of the survey," said Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry. "When you consider that South Dakota has the second lowest percent of state support for higher education in the region, I think that we are doing an excellent job of keeping total costs for students down."
The charts below and on the following page show how each state compared.
