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Mead Hall, on the the campus of Drew University in Madison, is shown in this file photo

(Jerry McCrae/The Star-Ledger)

TRENTON — A bill that would allow New Jersey college students to pay the same tuition for nine straight semesters is one step closer to becoming law.



The state Assembly today voted 48-21 to pass the bill, which was one of seven bills the lower house passed today that are intended to rein in college costs.



"The time for change in higher education has come," said Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), a sponsor of the bills. "For the last 20 years New Jersey's families have been at the mercy of what I would say is an oligarchy of presidents of higher education who determine their financial future."



Six lawmakers abstained.



The tuition bill would apply to every four-year higher educational institution except for those with endowments of $1 billion or more. The only school with an endowment that large is Princeton University, which Cryan said he did not include because it allows lower-income students to attend for free.

Students who take a year off would have to begin paying the same rate as incoming freshman if they return.



While Republicans either opposed the bill or abstained, none spoke against it on the floor. The state's colleges and universities are opposed to the bill.

"Rutgers supports the goal of affordability, but we — like every other institution &mdsah; have very serious concerns about the unintended consequences of the legislation," said Rutgers spokesman E.J. Miranda. " While it may increase predictability, it will increase the cost of tuition for incoming freshmen by equalizing costs over four-and-a-half years

Another major bill in the package would revoke for-profit college and universities' license to award degrees if they don't graduate at least 75 percent of full-time four-year degree students within six years, or 75 percent of two-year degree students within three years.



"Access to college is all but meaningless if it's not followed up with a degree and decent job potential," said Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), another sponsor, in a statement. "Holding these schools more accountable will help ensure they have the student's best interests in mind, not just their bottom line."



The five other bills the Assembly passed would:



• Have the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority compile an annual report detailing the debt of every higher education institution (A2815)



• Require four-year schools to offer students "shopping sheets" with information about costs and anticipated debt (A668)



• Limit schools from requiring more than 120 credits for students to achieve a bachelor's degree, and 60 for an associate's degree (A2802)



• Create a "reverse transfer" agreement so that at least 30 credits earned towards a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution can be transferred to a county college towards an associate's degree (A2801)



• Require schools to use common course numbering systems to ease transfer (A2805)



To become law, the bills must also pass the Senate and be approved by Gov. Chris Christie, who has not indicated his stance. Spokesmen for Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) did not return an email seeking comment.

Matt Friedman may be reached at mfriedman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattFriedmanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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