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At least one cost is not on the rise this year: tuition at Maryland state schools.

Governor O’Malley announced this morning that the University System of Maryland Board of Regents will not increase in-state undergraduate tuition at the state’s eleven universities for the next academic year. This will be the third consecutive year that tuition has been frozen.

O’Malley has been a major opponent of tuition increases, even since his days as mayor. During his campaign, he was critical of Ehrlich for increasing tuition by up to 40 percent. O’Malley, on the other hand, increased funding to the schools, thus allowing them to maintain tuition levels during his administration.

O’Malley said today that the tuition freeze would “help Maryland students and families make the dream of a college degree a reality and to help secure the strength of our workforce as we look toward tomorrow.”

However, students will face increases in fees — some of which are substantial, depending on the campus. The changes average four to five percent across the system, but vary widely by school. Some examples:

• Dorm fees: Increase 2.2 percent at College Park and 5 percent at Coppin.
• Meal plans: Increase 2 percent at Salisbury and 6.9 percent at UMES.
• Parking rates: No increase at Bowie but a 14.3 percent increase at Coppin.

So although tuition remains the same, expect a bigger bill nonetheless.

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