Officials for colleges and universities in Montana have given the green light for a $1.6 billion budget, according to U.S. News.
The Montana University Board of Regents’ approved the 8% boost in the budget unanimously. The new budget includes a $1 million increase for the University of Montana and a $15 million increase for Montana State University.
As for what the educational institutions will do with the new funds, a handful of the colleges already have plans to kick off Montana Project 10, an effort to increase the number of low-income students who graduate. The program will offer financial and academic backing for those students.
In addition, state appropriations per student are nearly at an all-time high, an average of $8,500. This is the highest average since it was a little more than $9,000 in 1992. Meanwhile, Montana State University in Havre currently has the highest rate, at roughly $11,600 per student.
