PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — College students across the state may be facing a larger hike in tuition next school year.

Gov. Tom Corbett is recommending major cuts in what the state gives to the colleges and universities.

The University of Pittsburgh is not exempt from those cuts. In fact, Pitt is facing a 50 percent reduction or $80 million in its basic general funding from the state but that is not all.

“The proposed cuts also include the complete elimination of support for our medical school, for Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, for the dental clinic, for a program that educates health professionals within the graduate school of public health,” said University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg. “So, when you add everything up, it is more than $100 million and closer to 60 percent than 50 percent.”

Nordenberg admits that Gov. Corbett is saddled with big problem.

“I think he came into office and he faces a huge budget deficit and he has to deal with it and he had little time to plan for it,” he said.

But Nordenberg is optimistic the legislature will come up with more money for Pitt.

However, he realizes the university is still facing a cut in state funds.

“I did not want my statement to be taken as overly optimistic, because you can win a significant amount back and still be dramatically disadvantaged,” said Nordenberg.

According to the Chancellor, even if the university faced a 25 percent cut in funding: “I think the first impact would be felt by our students and the families that support them. If you are not funded like a public university, it is hard to maintain public university tuitions.”

But how much of an increase in tuition might there be?

“I’ve deliberately avoided talking numbers, because we would try to cushion the students and their families to the extent that we could.”

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