By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Good news for Temple University students: no increase in tuition for the upcoming year.

The Temple Board of Trustees has announced a tuition freeze for the 2012-2013 school year. Temple spokesman Ray Betzner says the trustees didn’t have to look any further than today’s headlines to know that tuition is a major economic issue.

“The board was very clearly concerned about rising student debt. It’s one of the major issues facing the nation today. And as our board chair said, Temple University is committed to becoming a national leader in the effort to offer an affordable, quality education.”

Betzner says one reason for the freeze is action, or lack of it, by state lawmakers.

“One of the reasons why the board of trustees was able to take this action is that the governor and the leadership in the State General Assembly have agreed to keep the amount of money they give to Temple University at the same level as it was last year.”

Tuition will remain at $13,006 for in-state students.