N.D. college presidents defend tuition waivers

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota college presidents are defending their practice of offering tuition breaks to graduate students and students from outside the United States.

The North Dakota Legislature's interim Higher Education Committee is looking at the practice. North Dakota's 11 public colleges granted almost $24 million worth of tuition waivers during the last academic year.

North Dakota State University interim president Richard Hanson says NDSU's tuition waiver policy is being examined. NDSU has a $2.5 million budget shortfall, and the school granted $13 million in tuition waivers last year.

But Hanson says waivers are necessary to attract talented students that do research work, and he says they help create jobs and economic growth.

Tags: daily updates, north dakota, news, colleges, university, tuition, waiver