COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Housing and dining rates at the University of Missouri are once again increasing.
The University of Missouri Board of Curators met Wednesday in St. Louis, where the proposal was unanimously voted on. The approval means students at the Columbia location will now pay $817 more in housing and dining rates, effective during the summer session 2025.
Students currently pay $12,313 for room and board for fiscal year 2025. That rate will now go up 6.6% to $13,130 starting in fiscal year 2026.
Reasons for increasing the rates include student preference and demand, inflationary cost pressures and wanting to be competitive in the SEC, Executive Vice President Ryan Rapp said during Wednesday’s meeting.
University President Mun Choi told ABC 17 News the university always focuses on the cost of attendance, which includes housing and dining. He said the decision to increase prices came after “we noticed that we are significantly lower than out competitors in the SEC and compared to our surrounding flagship universities,” Choi said.
Below is a breakdown of the University of Missouri System’s housing and dining increases for all four campuses:
University of Missouri: 6.6% increase
University of Missouri-Kansas City: 4.3%
Missouri S&T in Rolla: 4.8%
University of Missouri-St. Louis: 3%
The Board of Curators also approved increasing rates in November 2023. That approval raised rates by 4.1%, or $453 for Summer 2024.
Freshman Bella Piper said her cousin attended the university when it increased its prices previously. Piper said she understands the factor inflation is playing in the university’s decision, but wishes it didn’t have to come to another boost in prices for students.
“I feel like it should be more accessible to students,” Piper said. “Like it’s already so expensive, like raising it again is kind of crazy, but hopefully they’ll like give scholarships to help out with that.”
Others raised questions about what the extra money the university is gaining is being put toward.
“I’m surprised also as it being the second year in a row, I just feel like what is the money going towards?” sophomore Amiria Galburth said. “Like [it’s] disappointing because I’m not seeing any changes that I can see from the extra money that we’re using for that. So, I’m kind of upset.”
Freshman Aidan Nemnick said he disagreed with the justification that the increase is needed to remain competitive and said it’s going to pose a challenge for those who pay their tuition themselves.
“It’s justified for them but at the same time, the students are the ones that are being harmed in the cause of that so I still think it’s unfair,” Nemnick said.
Choi told ABC 17 News he expects the university will increase its rates for fiscal year 2027.