Under Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s latest budget proposal, there will be a tuition freeze and an increase in higher education funding.

“As a result, these Presidents and Chancellors have agreed to freeze tuition for Missouri’s undergraduates next year. That means, once again for the fourth time in my administration, Missouri undergraduates won’t pay a penny more in tuition next year.”

Nixon’s proposal is just that, a proposal. The plan would have to be approved by the state’s Legislature and agreed upon by boards from the state’s colleges and universities.

If agreed upon, schools would have to give upwards of $9 million towards higher education.

“As part of the deal, Missouri colleges and universities would dedicate at least $9.2 million of the increased funding to Science, Technology and Math related programs.”

Nixon’s budget increases higher education funding 6 percent, which will be a welcome change considering national trends.

According to a report via The Washington Post, 47 states still haven’t returned to pre-recession levels when it comes to per student spending.

“State higher education spending per student, adjusted for inflation, is down 20 percent—or $1,805—between the 2008 and 2015 fiscal years, according to the report. Tuition, meanwhile, is up 29 percent, or $2,068, on average.”

Freezing tuition and increasing funding for higher education is a definitely a plus for students in Missouri. It shows where the priorities of the state lie — with educating the next generation of Missourians to have a higher quality of life. My hope is that other governors follow Nixon’s lead and prioritize education spending and costs in their own states.