Indiana Public Higher Education Institutions Announce Tuition Freezes

Overview

Governor Mike Braun has announced that all 15 public colleges and universities in Indiana, including primary and regional campuses, will maintain tuition and mandatory fees at current levels for in-state undergraduate students during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. This unprecedented decision aligns with the Governor’s directive to implement a 0% increase in tuition and mandatory fees, emphasizing affordability and access to education.

Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This initiative strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:

• SDG 4: Quality Education – Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all by making higher education more affordable.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Reducing inequalities within and among countries by providing equal access to education regardless of socioeconomic background.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Enhancing economic growth by investing in human capital and workforce development through accessible higher education.

Governor Braun’s Statement

Governor Braun emphasized the importance of efficiency and quality in public higher education:

“A month ago, we challenged our state’s public higher education institutions to find efficiencies, eliminate redundancies, and identify ways to streamline services without compromising quality. The commitment made by all of Indiana’s public colleges and universities puts students and parents first and demonstrates to the rest of the country that Indiana is a leader in providing a high-quality education at an affordable price.”

Participating Institutions

This is the first time since at least 2010 that more than two campuses have simultaneously held tuition flat. The following institutions have committed to this tuition freeze for in-state undergraduate students:

1. Ball State University
2. Indiana State University
3. Indiana University Bloomington
4. Indiana University East
5. Indiana University Indianapolis
6. Indiana University Kokomo
7. Indiana University Northwest
8. Indiana University South Bend
9. Indiana University Southeast
10. Ivy Tech Community College
11. Purdue University West Lafayette
12. Purdue University Fort Wayne
13. Purdue University Northwest
14. University of Southern Indiana
15. Vincennes University

Policy and Governance

Under Indiana Code 21-14-2-12.5, the Commission for Higher Education is required to make tuition and mandatory fee recommendations within 30 days of the enactment of the state budget during each biennium. For the first time, the Commission unanimously supported Governor Braun’s recommendation to hold tuition and fees flat, demonstrating strong institutional alignment with the goal of affordable education.

Student Perspective

Samantha Fleischaker, a student member of the Commission from the University of Southern Indiana, highlighted the social impact of this decision:

“Keeping tuition flat keeps the door open for students of all backgrounds, all ZIP codes, and all walks of life. It sends the message that education is not just for one demographic – it’s for all people. It’s not just a number. It’s the difference between opportunity and what feels impossible.”

Additional Resources

Further information on historic tuition and fee recommendations can be accessed here.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 4: Quality Education – The article focuses on public higher education institutions in Indiana committing to freeze tuition and mandatory fees, which directly relates to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – By holding tuition flat, the initiative aims to make higher education more affordable and accessible to students from diverse backgrounds, thereby reducing inequalities related to education access.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 4 Targets:
   • Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
   • Target 4.5: Eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations.
2. SDG 10 Targets:
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicator for SDG 4.3: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex.
2. Indicator for SDG 4.5: Parity indices (female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples and conflict-affected, as data become available) for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregated.
3. Indicator for SDG 10.2: Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by age, sex and persons with disabilities.
4. Additional Implied Indicator: Number or percentage of public higher education institutions implementing tuition freezes or maintaining affordable tuition rates for in-state students.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: wbiw.com