Cheaper college in Indiana?

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Indiana colleges and universities may be more affordable in the near future, and Purdue is proposing a $50 million learning center to help future students.

Democratic State Representative Sheila Klinker, who is a member of the subcommittee, said recent tuition hikes at state colleges and universities can be traced back to less and less government funding.

She expects spending on all levels of education to rise 3.5 percent this year which translates to millions of dollars.

This money will aid in the rehabilitation of campuses as well as funding for lower income students.

Klinker said Purdue is striving to make this funding more flexible for recipients in order to boost four-year graduation rates.

Purdue also proposed to the committee funding for what will be a $50 million learning center in the heart of campus.

With more money approved for education this year, Klinker said it's a positive step forward compared to years prior.

She believes the state seems to have reached the limit of what they can cut from education.

"We took $300 million from K through 12 and $150 million from higher education and those cuts dramatically affected what we could do with our universities, and K through 12," Klinker said. "About $67 million were cuts at Purdue."

Governor-elect Mike Pence has proposed a 10 percent tax cut this year, but he has promised to not make any additional education cuts.

Klinker cites a Ball State University survey that shows 60 percent of Hoosiers don't want the proposed tax cut and would rather the money be used towards education.