Apr 28, 2016 05:47 AM EDT By Mariel Hemingway, UniversityHerald Reporter

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has signed the higher education budget plan House Bill 2003, the Fiscal Year 2017. This results in the prevention of tuition fee increases for public colleges and universities in the state in the coming fall semester.

The budget plan gives an additional fund of $71.3 million to the higher education sector in Missouri. The extra budget could be allocated operating funds and scholarships for low-income students. According to KY3.com, this is the fourth time that the spending plan has prevented the tuition fees from increasing since Gov. Nixon became the state's governor.

The Daily Journal shares that the signing has resulted in an overall 4 percent funding increase for public colleges and universities. Columbia Tribune shares some of the breakdown of the approved funds. $4 million will go to Access Missouri scholarships, more than $2 million will go to the A+ Scholarship program at community colleges and $500,000 will be given to Bright Flight scholarships for high-performing students in Missouri. Furthermore, university leaders agreed to freeze tuition free increase because of increased budget as well.

For the rest of the funding, some will be set aside for tuition and requred fee rates for school year 2016-2017 in University of Missouri (UM). A meeting is in order but no final date is set but it is said that it will be around next month. The Columbia Missourian notes that the UM System's 17 million inreased funding would take care of the $3.8 million cut which will take place in July.

It took almost two months before lawmakers reached a decision on how to fund the UM System. This year the bill appropriates the money to the UM System via seven line items. The outlet reports that each campus will have their own share including MU Extension and UM System Administration as well.

What do you think of the increased funding for Missouri public colleges and universities? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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