LANSING – The average annual tuition for Michigan’s 15 public universities was $9,661 for 2009-10, but the average student paid only half of that, the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan, said in report released Tuesday.

While the state has been cutting its spending on both university operations and on financial aid, the institutions have stepped up to fill the gap, said Michigan Technological University President Glenn Mroz, chair of the Presidents Council.

“The boards understand the importance of education to increasing people’s economic status,” Mroz said of the university boards. “They have insisted that we increase financial aid.”

For the average student, need-based financial aid, largely from federal and university funds, covered $2,573 of the $9,661 in tuition. Merit-based aid covered another $1,718. And work study provided $95.

“All the institutions increased their aid at least by the increase in tuition,” said Patricia Farrell, author of the study.

Al Hermsen, director of financial aid at Wayne State University, said the institution has tripled its need-based aid to assist not only the low-income students, but the middle class students who would not qualify for federal assistance.

“Students can go to school here debt-free if they’re commuting from home and have a source of income to cover books,” Hermsen said. “I wish the state of Michigan (had) the same commitment.”

In part, the additional scholarship funds are coming from private donations. Mroz said many of the universities are including scholarship endowments as part of their annual capital campaigns.

“I tell alumni you can contribute $10,000, and you can save souls this year,” he said.

But much of the money is coming from fellow students. “It’s a progressive system,” said Michael Boulus, executive director of the Presidents Council. “Some students have more need than others.”

The approximately one-third of students who pay full tuition, plus the out-of-state and foreign students, are helping to subsidize tuition for the rest, Boulus said.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

a>>