Missouri community colleges strike tuition freeze deal

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri community colleges have agreed to freeze tuition next school year if state officials promise not to severely cut their budgets.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon said Friday that community colleges have promised to not raise tuition for instate students if budgets are cut by only 5.2 percent. That amounts to roughly an $8 million budget cut.

The community college agreement is similar to one Nixon announced earlier this week for Missouri's four-year colleges and universities. Those schools also agreed to a 5.2 percent budget cut without a tuition increase for in-state undergraduates.

The budget deal would affect how much money colleges and universities get starting next July. The schools can set their tuition rates, but the Legislature must approve the state budget.

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