Board Of Regents Raises Tuition At 3 Arizona Universities

By Alexandra Olgin
Published: Monday, May 4, 2015 - 10:25pm
Updated: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 8:31am
(Photo via @AZRegents)
Arizona Board of Regents.

A degree will be more expensive at Arizona’s three public universities. The Arizona Board of Regents voted Monday to raise tuition to compensate for nearly $100 million in state cuts to higher education. 

The budget cuts left the University of Arizona in Tucson with $28.4 million less for the 2015-2016 school year. The university is increasing in-state tuition by 3 percent and out-of-state by 6 percent.

Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff will increase tuition by 3.7 percent for in-state students and 5 percent for out of state students. NAU lost $17.3 million in the state budge reductions. To deal with decreasing state funding, schools are shifting their funding model so a higher share of revenue comes from tuition and a lower share comes from the state.

“I think we are abandoning the history of Arizona where the general fund subsidizes every in state student. I’ve said I think that’s the wrong policy," said
Board of Regents Chairman Mark Killian.

Both NAU and UA have guaranteed tuition programs which allow students to lock in their tuition rates for four years. Both schools are also increasing those rates for incoming students. 

The budget cut cost Arizona State University in Tempe $53.2 million. In response, it’s raising in-state undergraduate tuition with a one year fee of $320 which is a 3.4 percent jump. Out-of-state tuition will go up by 4 percent.

“We don’t ever like seeing an increase, but with the cuts from our state there really wasn’t too much of an option. And we understand that with ASU’s decision that it was the best one that they could make right now with the massive cuts that we received," ASU student Corina Tapscott said.

The board also discussed giving some young immigrants known as DREAMers a tuition break. The proposal would allow those students to pay 150 percent of the in-state tuition rate. They’re currently paying the out-of-state rate. The board could vote on that next month.