For the first time in 25 years, the price of tuition in 2013 for in-state undergraduates at the University of Maine will remain the same after the University of Maine System board of trustees approved the budget of over $528 million for the upcoming fiscal year.“Today we have the results of the great work completed by the university presidents, chief financial officers and vice chancellor Rebecca Wyke in presenting a balanced budget,” said system Chancellor James Page in a press release on Monday.

The price per credit hour at each of the seven system schools will remain the same as the 2012 rate despite a $2.3 million decrease in state appropriation. While the system maintains its stance that this year’s budget is balanced, they recognize that their budget won’t likely be able to bear continual freezes won’t sustain over time.

With annual tuition and mandatory fees, the price for in-state undergraduates at UMaine in 2013 is $10,594 compared to $10,588, due to a $6 raise in the New Balance Recreation Center fee.

To further satisfy the future of the budget, Page stated in the press release that he is planning on implementing several goals and actions mentioned by trustees in a January.

The goals include aligning system funding with performance-based outcomes, reallocating savings from administration and infrastructure to the University’s main mission of research, teaching and public service and improve the college credit transfer process, making it easier for students to transfer between the Maine Community College System to the university system.

“These projects will also provide an opportunity to develop high-performing, focused teams through the System,” Page said in the release. “The work of these teams will be our major first steps in building a system to address our challenges and opportunities.”

Out-of-state tuition at UMaine for the 2013 fiscal year increased $1,140, from $24,090 to $25,230. Room and board charges at UMaine also increased, rising $80 in the 2013 fiscal year.