As economic trouble sets in for families looking to pay for higher education, Big Ten universities will most likely be increasing tuition, but those increases could be buffered by stimulus money. The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a bill last Wednesday that would cap tuition increases at the University of Minnesota over the next two years. The bill would use federal stimulus money to cap tuition increases at about 3 percent per year. The 2008-2009 tuition rate was $8,500 , an increase of $550 âÄï or 6.9 percent âÄï from the previous academic year. The rate for 2009-2010 has not been announced, but the bill would limit the increase to about $300 per student. Except for Ohio State University, which announced in March that it will not increase tuition for residents in 2009-2010, the 3 percent increase would be the lowest among the Big Ten universities that have released their 2009-2010 tuition rates. At Indiana University , the 2008-2009 tuition rate was $8,232. While the tuition rate for the 2009-2010 academic year is pending, senior assistant bursar Sally Brann said tuition increases have averaged about 5 percent per year since 2000. At the University of Iowa , this yearâÄôs tuition was $11,096, but that number will increase to $11,564 in the fall, a 4.2 percent increase. Students at the University of Michigan paid $10,141 for tuition this year, a 5.7 percent increase from last year and a 76.9 percent increase since 2000, Deborah Green, university spokeswoman, said. Green said it is unknown if the university will receive stimulus money. At the University of Illinois , incoming first years paid $9,242 this academic year and are guaranteed to pay the same amount for each of the four years of their attendance. However, thatâÄôs a 9.5 percent increase from last yearâÄôs rate. Northwestern UniversityâÄôs 2008-2009 tuition was $36,756 , a number that will increase by 3.6 percent to $38,088 for the next academic year. At the University of Wisconsin , the 2008-2009 tuition was $7,569, a 5.3 percent increase from last year. Ohio State UniversityâÄôs tuition and fees was $8,679 for 2008-2009. Tuition for Ohio residents will not be increased for the 2009-2010 academic year. Students at Purdue University paid $8,060 in tuition and fees for the 2008-2009 academic year, an 8.7 percent increase from 2007-2008. At Michigan State University, tuition and fees for 2008-2009 was $10,264, with next yearâÄôs rate still pending, according to university spokesman Tom Oswald. The Daily was unable to determine the tuition amount Penn State University students will pay next year and was unable to contact anyone from the university by press time.