SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WJPF) — When they meet next week, the SIU Board of Trustees are expected to approve a tuition freeze.

It would apply to undergraduate and graduate programs at both the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses and programs at the four professional schools – dental, law, medicine, and pharmacy.

In a news release, Board of Trustees Chairman Phil Gilbert credits Governor JB Pritzker, saying more state funding for higher education is making the decision to freeze tuition an easier one.

In December, SIU Carbondale reported applications for first-time freshman were up more that 27% over last year and the number of admitted students was up 21%. For the Edwardsville Campus those same numbers are up 21% and 20% respectively.