Colorado colleges and universities are proposing possible tuition increases for next year ranging from 9 percent to 21 percent — all made necessary by deep cuts to the state’s contribution to higher education.

But while parents and high school’s Class of 2011 face sticker shock, college presidents blame a state system that has long shoved higher education down a long list of priorities.

“You don’t get services for free,” said Stephen Jordan, president of Metropolitan State College of Denver, who has requested a potential 21 percent increase in tuition for next year. “The public either has to decide we are going to do it through shared responsibility, which is the tax system, or it is the responsibility of the individual. So far, the public has said it is the responsibility of the individual.”

Colorado ranks 48th in the nation in state funding per resident student for public universities and colleges. Since July 2009, the state has cut higher-education funding by nearly 60 percent.

The state cut $50 million in funding from the University of Colorado’s budget in fiscal year 2008-09 and an additional $71 million the following year.

Other institutions have also had to adjust to deep cuts.

Colorado must either find a sustainable source of funding for higher education “or continue to privatize it as the state has done over the past 20 years,” said Colorado State University president Tony Frank, who has requested an increase of as much as 20 percent. “My opinion is the state is far better served by sustainable funding.”

Realistically, he added, there are only two options: Raise taxes or take money from somewhere else in an already largely allocated state budget.

Last week, all of the state’s public colleges except for the Colorado School of Mines submitted financial accountability plans, for FAPs, to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.

The institutions won’t set tuition rates for fiscal year 2011-12 until a state budget is drawn up that will include the amount it will provide higher education.

The FAPs are required by Senate Bill 3, which gave colleges and universities the right to increase their tuition by no more than 9 percent without state approval. But if they boost tuition above that ceiling, they need state approval and must outline plans to assist low- and middle-income students.

In addition to increases at CSU and Metro State, CU has proposed a tuition hike of up to 9.5 percent and Mesa State College a potential jump of 9 percent.

The institutions are making plans to cushion the blow through increased financial aid and other measures. Metro State has a plan to reduce fees paid by all students, a move that that would trim the potential tuition bump from 21 percent to 16.4 percent — a $652.42 increase.

At CSU, tuition will be cut in half for in-state students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree if their family’s income is at or below the state median, which was $57,000 in 2008. Students who qualify for Pell grants will pay no tuition.

The aid program is largely federally and privately funded.

But there is little in the plans to encourage middle-class families, many of whom won’t qualify for financial aid and will pay all of any increase.

Higher-education leaders are caught in a bind, said Stephen C. Ludwig, CU Board of Regents vice chair.

“No one is keen on large tuition increases and no one wants to compromise the quality of what CU has to offer, so we are in a bit of a pickle on how we move forward,” Ludwig said.

CU president Bruce Benson’s responsibility is to keep the state’s flagship institution not only afloat but capable of offering a high-quality education even as state funding continues to plunge. It isn’t easy, he said.

“I can’t answer to the guy who says ‘What am I going to do?’ ” about paying for his child’s education, Benson said. “Because I am saying ‘What am I going to do?’ I feel for them, I am coming up with the financial aid and doing everything possible to make it affordable.”

Those hoping to halt the annual cost escalation should get involved with the state’s political machinery, some of the school leaders said. “Call your elected official,” said Mesa State president Tim Foster. “That is a little tongue-in- cheek, but not a lot.”

News of the schools’ plans has caused concern among those fearing the worst.

In an e-mail, Frank assured CSU’s students, families and faculty that efforts will be made to keep any increase as low as possible.

“Given the dire state of Colorado’s budget,” Frank said, “we can expect that tuition will rise, but all of us at CSU are well aware that a lot of our students and their families are struggling — and that’s not something we take lightly.”

Both Frank and Benson panned the requirement to submit a plan by last Friday, before knowing how much the state will appropriate.

“We might be able to get out without going that high. But we have to plan for that now before we know what (state funding) will be. In my opinion it is a deeply flawed implementation plan,” Frank said.

Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com