UT System pushing 4-year tuition option - KXXV-TV News Channel 25 - Central Texas News and Weather for Waco, Temple, Killeen |

By JIM VERTUNO
Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - University of Texas System regents have ordered their schools to offer students a 4-year fixed-rate tuition option by fall 2014.

After a decade of rising costs, Gov. Rick Perry has been pushing universities to offer students fixed-rate tuition plans and the Legislature is considering putting it into state law.

The University of Texas System has nine campuses with about 216,000 students. The UT-Dallas campus has used a mandatory 4-year tuition plan since 2008. UT-El Paso has had an optional plan since 2006.

The regents on Thursday ordered the other seven campuses to offer 4-year plans. Each campus would set the tuition rate.

Supporters say it will encourage students to graduate on time.

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