Tuition jumped by 6.5 percent nationally over last year's prices, but local four-year colleges didn't budge. The scenario could be different next year.

The College Board, a not-for-profit membership association composed of more than 5,400 schools, colleges and universities, released its "Trends in College Pricing" report this week. At just over $7,000, the average price of a year of classes jumped about $429, according to the report.

Missouri schools were immune to the increase, due to a deal with the governor that held tuition and appropriations flat. Public colleges in Missouri are already held by law from raising tuition above the consumer price index, which is hovering around 1.5 percent. This could pose a problem if appropriations, which fund about 50 percent of expenditures at public four-year universities, are cut.

University officials can appeal to the Coordinating Board of Higher Education for a waiver, which a state official said last month he would expect to see from universities across the state in the coming year. Officials at Missouri Western State University and Northwest Missouri State University said they would consider the waiver as an option.

Gov. Jay Nixon has pledged support for higher education, but revenues are down by about 10 percent. Sen. Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, said if the trend continues, some "tough decisions will have to be made."

"We're probably a little too early to know exactly what the impact is going to be," he said, adding that a clearer picture should develop in January or February.

Tough economic times in 2001 and 2002 called for tough decisions on tuition, which rocketed up to 16 percent for Northwest and 26 percent for Western. The schools scrambled to make up millions of dollars in revenues lost in appropriations. And despite record enrollments, university officials are still concerned about pricing students out of college.

Mel Klinkner, vice president for finance and administration at Western, said they've managed, so far, to cover costs without increases in tuition or state funding and that they're looking at more burden in the coming year with increased costs in their retirement program. Schools have already frozen salaries and trimmed fat, leaving tuition hikes a more viable option than in years past.

"At some point you have to do something," Mr. Klinkner said of the possibility of asking for a waiver next year. "It's tough. You want quality education and you've got to have money to do it. We're just keeping pace right now."

Echoing Mr. Shields' comments, Dan Edmonds, interim vice president of finance and operations at Northwest, said it's too early to know how state funding for education will play out, but that they too see the waiver as an option.

"The earlier we can have (tuition) set, the better for us," Mr. Edmonds said of letting students know what they'll be paying in the upcoming school year, which is also helpful in recruiting. "We're just trying to be as hopeful as we can and also trying to be as realistic as we can."

Jimmy Myers can be reached

at jimmym@npgco.com.