The state’s three public universities have proposed no tuition increases for most in-state students at this time at Arizona Board of Regents' virtual meeting on Monday.
Northern Arizona University's proposal includes tuition increases for out-of-state undergrads and graduate students taking classes in person, and undergrads taking courses online. It's also raising its housing and dining prices.
University of Arizona President Robert Robbins has proposed no increases for base tuition and mandatory fees for nearly all new in-state and out-of-state students.
“This global pandemic has severely impacted the finances of our incoming students and their families," he said at the meeting. "We want them to know that they come first.”
Arizona State University is holding off on tuition increases for in-state students at the moment, but it did ask the board to approve a tuition and fee increase of up to 5% for international and out-of-state students. ASU would determine the actual tuition and fee increase as it continued to monitor the situation. President Michael Crow said if ASU decides to increase tuition for in-state students at a later date, that increase would be lower than 3%.
But some students said during the meeting's public comment period that's not enough, and they’d like to see universities do more for students at this time. One ASU student, Alexander, said he recently lost his job due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m worried about how I’m going to pay my rent this month. I’m worried about how I’m going to pay my rent over the summer," he said. "I’m worried about where am I going to get my next job and an increase in tuition or a freeze in tuition, unfortunately, it’s not enough comfort to me.”
UA first-year College of Medicine in-state students at the Phoenix and Tucson campuses will see a 3% increase in tuition. There will be no increase in tuition for continuing medical students or for incoming nonresident medical students.
The Tucson-based university also proposed tuition rates for students of its new College of Veterinary Medicine. In-state students could pay $45,000 for the inaugural year and out-of-state could pay $69,999.
The board will make a final decision on the tuition proposals next month.
