In the recently released state budget, UMass is facing a $28.5 million funding loss as compared to last year, a difference of 5.9 percent. To partially alleviate the budget cut's effect on spending, UMass officials are considering a system-wide tuition increase of up to $300, in addition to $350 to $500 in increases approved earlier this year.
For the upcoming fiscal year, Massachusetts now ranks last among the 50 states in legislative funding support, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Massachusetts was the only New England state to cut funding for its public universities and colleges. The University of Connecticut, which UMass considers a peer institution, saw a 6.5 percent funding increase. Overall, state funding of higher education in Connecticut increased by 7.9 percent.
Other New England states also saw increases; Maine increased funding by 4.8 percent, New Hampshire by 6.9 percent, Rhode Island by 7.4 percent and Vermont by 8 percent.
UMass has five campuses across the state. The system's flagship is its Amherst campus. The other campuses are located in Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and Worcester.