Tuition will increase at the state’s three public universities in the next academic year. The Arizona Board of Regents on Thursday approved new tuition and fee rates for Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.
A number of students and faculty spoke out against proposed increases at the meeting. UA senior lecturer Nataly Reed said her students are burdened by costs even at the current rates.
“I wish that my students had ways to fully pay attention to their studies without worrying about debt and extra jobs," Reed told the board.
But university leaders argued that the increases are needed to keep up with inflation and to make up for decreases in state funding for higher education. ASU President Michael Crow pointed out that as tuition has increased, the university has also spent more on financial aid.
“Our tuition design for the past 10 years has been to do everything that we can to keep tuition at the lowest level even within the state to attain a bachelor’s degree," Crow said.
The universities have not increased tuition for most students for the past two years in response to the pandemic. UA is planning a 2% increase for in-state students and a 5.6% increase for non-resident students. ASU will raise tuition 2.5% for residents, 4% for non-residents and 5% for international students. NAU will enact a 3.5% increase for residents and non-residents, and a 2% for international and online students.
Many current students at UA and NAU would not be impacted by the increases because of tuition guarantee programs at those schools.
