THE former minister who proposed a shake-up of university funding now says more money can be found without increasing tuition fees.
Alliance member Stephen Farry published options for a sustainable higher education system before the assembly election.
The status quo, he said, had led to reduced student and staff places.
His successor - economy minister Simon Hamilton - is now considering options, which include one that could see a three-year degree costing £27,000.
There is a large funding gap between the resourcing of universities in Britain and the north - about £39 million per year. Institutions in England are not as reliant on government funding because they can charge much higher fees and caps on places, that remain in the north, have been lifted.
In addition, higher education funding has fallen from £203m to £186m in the north, prompting both Ulster and Queen's universities to make staff and student cuts.
With Stormont finances expected become even tighter, it is feared a tuition rise may be the only available source of extra income.
Annual costs ranging from £6,500 to £9,000 are being considered. It was also reported this week that Queen's has recommended fees of up to £6,300 a year, which would help reverse cuts to student places.
Dr Farry has now stressed the importance of the Executive "properly funding local universities", saying this could be achieved without increasing tuition fees "as long as inefficiencies in public spending are addressed".
"The starting point is to recognise the funding gap that exists between the resourcing of universities in Great Britain and locally, and also the impact of the £16m Executive cuts from 2015/16, which led to a reduction in places. There is also the need to expand higher education, with funding in the region of £30m, if universities and other providers are to keep pace with the demand for high level skills," he said.
"This £85m can be found from within the existing Northern Ireland budget if the Executive is prepared to address waste and inefficiency, including tackling the costs of managing a divided society. Higher and further education is integrated in sharp contrast to the expensive and less efficient primary and secondary sectors.
"With a strong programme of reform, we can maintain the current approach to tuition fees and maintenance support and also invest properly in our future."
Green Party assembly member Clare Bailey said she was concerned by plans to increase fees.
"Higher education should be available to all who want it, regardless of their financial circumstances. Raising fees will simply mean that a university education is unaffordable to many people," she said.
