South Dakota Republican Leadership eyes tuition freeze amid projected revenue surge

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - At Thursday’s republican leadership press conference in Pierre, it was announced that the state’s revenue estimates were turned in, and it looks like 2025 could see some extra funds.

The possibility of extra revenue has had the House and the Senate looking at ongoing requests for the budget, including the possibility of another tuition freeze for higher education. According to Senator Ryan Maher from District 28, the tuition freeze helps universities’ retention rates, as well as student recruitment and enrollment increases.

“What that translates into is that those students who are coming here with the scholarship opportunities that we’ve been able to provide over the last couple of years is that they’re staying in South Dakota, that they’re working in South Dakota,” Maher said.

Some students believe that a tuition freeze could help keep their daily living expenses down.

“It would definitely lessen the burden, especially the financial burden. I could possibly find a nicer place to live on campus, while still being financially stable. Whether that be on campus, off campus. It would also help offset a lot of other costs in the life, whether that I could be buying better food or X, Y, Z, without having to live with the financial burden of stress,” said Lucas, a student at South Dakota Mines.

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