LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Indiana is urging its newest graduates to "stay home and build a future," as Gov. Mike Braun promotes a statewide tuition freeze and a revamped high school diploma system aimed at keeping students in-state after graduation.
All 15 of Indiana's public colleges and universities agreed to hold in-state tuition and mandatory fees flat for the next two academic years, a move state leaders say is designed to make a four-year degree more affordable than it has been in more than a decade.
Officials said it is the first time every public institution in the state has frozen tuition at the same time.
The policy was endorsed by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, which said the effort could save families hundreds to thousands of dollars over the life of a degree.
Braun is coupling the affordability push with a new high school diploma framework for the Class of 2026 that divides graduation paths into three tracks: college enrollment, workforce employment or military enlistment.
Students who complete advanced academic requirements can qualify for expanded admission opportunities at Indiana public universities, while other pathways emphasize job training or service readiness.
State officials said the goal is to give students clearer direction after graduation while strengthening Indiana's workforce pipeline.
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