UM System approves capital projects, tuition rates | The Locally Times
Despite approving tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year and significant campus projects, the UM System Board of Curators has not publicly released specific financial details, leaving students and taxpayers in the dark about the true cost.
The University of Missouri System's Board of Curators has approved tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year and greenlit major capital projects across its campuses. Yet, despite these decisions directly impacting student finances and taxpayer-funded infrastructure, the specific financial details — including exact tuition increases and project budgets — remain conspicuously absent from public records. This lack of transparency leaves students, families, and the public without key information regarding the true cost of a UM System education and its future development. The same release also refers to a board action on May 18, 2026, which reportedly approved tuition rates for the 2023-24 academic year across all four universities. However, the exact tuition amounts or any percentage increases for either academic year are not specified in the available documents. This omission leaves students and families unable to determine the precise financial impact of these decisions, despite the finalized cost structure for the coming academic year. ## Infrastructure Projects Approved, Details Scarce Beyond tuition, the Board of Curators has authorized significant investments in campus infrastructure. According to a news release issued today, April 5, 2026, the board initially approved a set of capital projects for the UM System in June 2022. This laid the groundwork for future development. The board authorized further expansion of university facilities in February 2023, greenlighting five new projects aimed at significantly expanding research and clinical facilities at two universities, as noted in a February 9 news release. However, records fail to provide specific details on the nature, location, or financial investment for the June 2022 projects. Likewise, the five new projects from February 2023 lack specific names, individual campus allocations, or budget figures, leaving the full scope and cost of these infrastructure developments unclear. ## Innovation Fund, Drug Policy Also Lack Detail Beyond tuition and infrastructure, the UM System also focuses on fostering innovation and maintaining operational standards. Yesterday's news release (April 4, 2026) states the system invested in an venture capital fund and supports student entrepreneurs to cultivate new businesses and ideas. However, the specific investment amount or the number of students supported remains undisclosed. In a separate development, a December 7 news release confirmed the UM System's consistent policy: marijuana remains prohibited on all its grounds due to federal law. The specific federal statute underpinning this prohibition is not identified in the document. ## Unanswered Questions The UM System's recent announcements leave several critical questions unanswered for students, families, and the public: **What will 2024-25 tuition cost?** While the Board of Curators approved tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year, official records from the University of Missouri System do not specify the exact tuition amounts or any percentage increases. **Which capital projects were approved, and for how much?** Records confirm capital projects were approved in June 2022, with five new projects added in February 2023 to expand research and clinical facilities at two universities. However, specific project names, locations, or financial details are not provided. **Is marijuana allowed on campus?** No. A December 7 news release from the University of Missouri System reiterates that marijuana remains prohibited on all UM System grounds due to federal law.