Maine Public, WABI report on tuition cut for out-of-state MBA students

Maine Public and WABI (Channel 5) reported the University of Maine System is drastically cutting tuition for out-of-state students pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration as part of an effort to increase enrollment. Beginning in January, out-of-state MBA students will see their tuition decline by nearly half, Maine Public reported. According to WABI, that could increase the percentage of out-of-state students in the program from 4% up to 20% in the next two years. “In today’s MBA market, people are looking for high-quality programs that are also really affordable,” said Michael Weber, dean of the University of Maine Graduate School of Business. By lowering tuition, Weber said the hope is that more students with different backgrounds will come to the school. “That helps Mainers understand business outside of Maine. How does Maine compete in an international environment? That way the students are learning more from just a professor in that type of environment,” said Weber. “At the same time we’re doing some good things for our in-state students as well,” said UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “We’ve offered a new discounted rate, discounted by 12% to students that are part of organizations that are part of the Maine Chamber of Commerce. And therefore we’ll be able to bring our students who are inside of Maine as well to this MBA program.”