The Mississippi Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning works to approve a plan that will raise tuition above $7,000 per year at Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi. Both MSU and Ole Miss plan increases of roughly five percent in each of the next two years, while USM proposes a pair of 3.5 percent increases.
The College Board could take final action on the proposed increase in its November meeting. At MSU, tuition would increase for the 2014-15 school year to $7,140, which is a 5.4 percent increase (including a $50 per semester facilities charge).
Don Zant, vice president for budget and planning, said MSU has taken significant steps to implement cost-savings strategies, which include shared services (partnership with Mississippi University for Women for auditing), outsourcing (food services and bookstore services), increased energy efficiencies (SmartWatt and other energy management/conservation initiatives) and other innovative strategies.
“At the end of the day, it is increasingly expensive to operate a competitive, comprehensive land-grant research university. Tuition at regional peer institutions like Auburn is at $9,852 which far exceeds the proposed $7,140 tuition at MSU,” Zant said. 
Clinton Alexander, junior communication major, said he does not think anyone likes tuition hikes, but if expenditures are outlined, he doesn’t see a problem. 
“I feel that if the motives for the rise are explained in some detail, outlining specific areas that the money will be aiding in, people are more willing to understand because they see what the money will be used for,” Alexander said. 
Zant said tuition increase is essential to maintain a faculty of bright, dedicated educators.
“The increased funding is needed primarily to provide salary increases to faculty members. Without those increases, it will be difficult to retain the best and brightest faculty members who in turn attract the best and brightest students,” Zant said.
Torian Carothers, junior kinesiology major, said she thinks the tuition hike is ridiculous and will burden the students who are already swamped with student loans. 
“People are going to have to take out more loans. What about people that are poor? The school should look at both sides, the side of the professors and the students on loans,” Carothers said. “The tuition should stay where it is at. I can understand engineering majors paying more because we have a good program, but I am a kinesiology major.” 
The tuition plans have been approved once by the board but will require a second round of approval before the increase is finalized.