PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - More than 4,000 Maine students are attending the state’s public universities without paying tuition or fees.
Chancellor James Page and the presidents of Maine’s public universities say that nearly a quarter of roughly 16,000 Maine undergraduates are currently attending free of tuition and fee expense.
The Monday announcement comes after the University of Maine System in March said it’s facing a $3 million budget shortfall. That’s despite a tuition increase and an increase in state funding.
In-state tuition rates at University of Maine universities vary from nearly $7,000 to $8,700. Fees range from $850 to $2,380.
Meanwhile, students also face room and board rates between $8,000 and $10,000.
Maine public universities say they awarded 24,000 students with an average financial aid award of nearly $12,000 last year.
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