MUSC asks lawmakers for $350 million for a comprehensive cancer hospital and $20.9 million in tuition mitigation

Doctor Cole, speaking for the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), told the House higher education subcommittee that MUSC seeks major capital and recurring funding to expand cancer care across the state and to sustain tuition mitigation for in‑state students.

On recurring funds, Cole asked for $20,900,000 in annual dollars for tuition mitigation to preserve current no‑increase policy for in‑state students. "We're asking for $20,900,000 in recurring dollars for tuition mitigation this year," Cole said, describing tuition mitigation as MUSC's only significant recurring request.

On capital, Cole framed a long‑range plan to achieve National Cancer Institute (NCI) comprehensive cancer center status, saying the Hollings Cancer Center is the state's only NCI‑designated cancer center and MUSC wants a downtown Charleston comprehensive hospital to serve as the hub in a statewide hub‑and‑spoke network. Cole summarized the ask: "They ask 350000000. It's a huge ask. It's a significant ask," and said MUSC is simultaneously launching a $200,000,000 philanthropic campaign to complement state support.

Cole said the comprehensive center would expand clinical trials and local access so underrepresented patients could receive advanced care nearer home. He said MUSC is already delivering trials across the state and is above national standards for underrepresented enrollment, and that community partners (Mabry in Orangeburg, Florence, Indian Land and others) would be part of the clinical‑trial network.

Cole also requested $75,000,000 for campus renewal projects to address facilities and HVAC needs. He described the broader public‑private plan as part of a statewide strategy to meet a rising cancer burden: "In the next 5 years, [the] incidence, diagnosis, increased rate of 20 percent in the next 5 years," he said, describing demographic and demand pressures that inform the proposal.

Members asked how the comprehensive hospital would affect existing partners and whether it would reduce travel for patients; Cole said the hub would raise the standard of care statewide while community partners would retain and expand local treatment and clinical‑trial access. MUSC and lawmakers discussed research funding and visa/immigration concerns; Cole said MUSC's extramural funding remains near recent highs (about $358–360 million) and that the institution remains mission‑focused despite federal and immigration uncertainties.

The committee recessed after MUSC's presentation; members did not vote on funding during the session. MUSC's capital and recurring requests will be considered as part of the ongoing appropriations process.