SD Universities Worry About College Affordability

PIERRE, SD - The president of the South Dakota Board of Regents says declining state support and rising tuition and fees could put college out of the reach of many students in the future.

Kathryn Johnson is head of the appointed board that runs the six state-run universities. She says students now can afford to attend the schools and repay student loans. But she says university officials are worried that rising tuition and fees could reach the point where graduates will not earn enough to pay off those loans.

Johnson and other university officials on Tuesday met with the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee, which is putting together the state budget for next year.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard's budget proposal would spend a total of nearly $800 million next year on higher education.