Arizona Board of Regents approves tuition hike for three state universities

April 04, 2013

The Arizona Board of Regents has unanimously approved more than $100 million in tuition and fee increase at the state’s three universities for the next academic year.  

Base tuition and mandatory fees will go up 3 percent at Arizona State and the University of Arizona and they’ll increase anywhere between 2-5 percent at Northern Arizona University. 

The hikes mean in-state undergrads at the U of A and ASU will pay about $300 more, and some instate NAU undergrads will see nearly a $500 jump in tuition next academic year. 

Regent Mark Killian explained that while he supports the increases he says Arizona lawmakers are neglecting their responsibility to determine tuition rates.

“The positions that we’re taking by raising tuition is in violation of Arizona’s constitution not of our own making. The legislature has in their actions have left us no choice," Killian said.

The tuition increases come at a time when state lawmakers have dramatically reduced spending for higher education. The university presidents say despite the hike, tuition is still more affordable in Arizona compared to some other states.