Northwest Missouri State University has decided to increase its tuition and fee for 2013-14 academic year, modify the university's alcohol policy and add new programs to the existing curriculum.

The university will hike tuition by 1.7 percent for the fall 2013 trimester. It will go up by $214.56 for in-state undergraduates and $329.04 for out-of-state undergraduates for 24 student credit hours per academic year.

On the other hand, students requiring 18 credit hours per academic year will experience a raise of $187.38 for in-state students and $287.46 for out-of-state students.

The increase is calculated based on the Consumer Price Index.

Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said that the tuition increase approved by the Board helps the university to continue to deliver high quality education and value to students.

Meanwhile, the room and board rates are also set to increase 4 percent depending upon apartment, suite or residence hall style of housing.

In addition, the university is implementing a new residential dining program, which will see an increase of up to 2 percent, depending upon the meal plan a student selects.

Northwest University now permits students, who are of legal age and above, to consume alcohol beverages in parking lots 60, 62 and 63 of Bearcat Stadium and in the stadium's suites during home football games and during social functions at the Thomas Gaunt House; wedding receptions and event openings that are approved by the president.

The curriculum additions feature a MBA business foundation course for students planning to enter Master of Business Administration graduate program and an interdisciplinary minor, accounting information systems in the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Information Systems.