Responding to college-cost audit, Nixon touts affordability

(AP) — Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon is doubling down on his stance that Missouri is a "national leader in college affordability" in response to a recent state audit that found in-state and out-of-state students are bearing more of the costs at public universities and colleges.

Since fiscal year 2009, state funding per full-time student dropped 19 percent, according to a report released last week by Auditor Nicole Galloway.

Lawmakers kept schools from raising tuition more than the consumer price index starting in the 2008 school year, the report said, so over the course of six years, the state's four-year colleges upped supplemental course and degree fees to raise money by 112 percent per full-time student — in-state and out-of-state — and net tuition and required fees went up 25 percent for all students as well.

When asked for details to verify that assertion, Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said college affordability for Missouri families "has been a priority for this administration" and cited programs such as Nixon's innovation campus initiative, which partners businesses with colleges to help students graduate more quickly.