WMU to cut undergraduate out-of-state tuition nearly in half

By Madison Bennett | MLive

KALAMAZOO, MI - Western Michigan University's Board of Trustees voted to cap tuition for future undergraduates from outside Michigan, which the university says will "dramatically" reduce tuition for incoming nonresidents to attend WMU.

The cap will take effect during WMU's summer I session in May 2017 and basic, main-campus tuition rates for newly admitted nonresident students will be set at 1.25 times the rate Michigan residents pay, the university said in a news release. The current rate for nonresident undergraduate students is 2.3 times the rate charged to Michigan students.

According to the university, 2016-2017 basic tuition rates, annual tuition and required fees for a nonresident freshman or sophomore would be nearly cut in half, taking it down to $14,366 from its current cost of $26,851. Tuition for the 2017-2018 academic year has not yet been set.

For nonresident students currently enrolled, basic tuition and fees will remain the same, but such students will continue to be eligible for the scholarships and financial aid packages that have helped trim the cost of attendance in the past, the university said.

According to Jan Van Der Kley, vice president for business and finance, the current rate caused the university to no longer be perceived as competitive as some other Michigan colleges and universities in states WMU targeted for enrollment growth.

While the rate puts WMU in a good position to compete for out-of-state students and enhances international enrollment, the university will continue to recruit "any and all qualified Michigan residents," Van Der Kley said.

She also told the board that the declining number of Michigan high school graduates over the coming years means WMU will need to target nonresident population to "maintain enrollment numbers that allow it (the university) to operate at maximum efficiency."

The WMU Board of Trustees voted to approve the cap during it first meeting in the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

In other business, the board elected Jeffrey Rinvelt to serve as chairman succeeding Kenneth Miller, who remains on the board. It elected James Bolger, as vice chairman, a position that had been held by Rinvelt.

Rinvelt, of Ann Arbor, earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from WMU in 1991 and is the principal with Renaissance Venture Capital Fund. Bolger, of Whitehall, is a WMU alumnus who retired after a 26-year career with the Michigan State Police. Both Rinvelt and Bolger were appointed to the WMU Board of Trustees in 2014 by Gov. Rick Snyder.

The board at its meeting Tuesday also took a moment to recognize and honor the Bronco football team for its achievements on and off the field.

Miller and WMU President John Dunn both congratulated the team on its achievements during a 13-1 season that included an appearance in the Cotton Bowl and also thanked the community for its support.

"I don't think any of us involved will ever forget the spectacular football season that has just concluded," Dunn said.

A video recapping the Broncos historic season was shown before running back Jamauri Bogan addressed the room.

"On behalf of Bronco athletics, I want to say thank you guys for all that you guys do for us," Bogan said. "You guys have given me and so many others the opportunity to play a Division I sport and also get an elite education at an elite university."

This post originally appeared Jan. 24, 2017 on MLive.com.