The Arizona Board of Regents has approved tuition growth rates for the next five years, affecting students who attend Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University.
The big decision came down after a vote Friday morning.
The approved 2023-24 tuition and fees are available here.
Under ASU’s proposal, the plan was for tuition in the fall to increase for in-state students who live on campus by 3%, or $330. For out-of-state students who live on campus, it jumps to 5% or nearly $1,500.
NAU was set to increase tuition by 3% for undergraduate in-state students for the next school year. Housing there would also go up more than 4% under the proposal and meal plans would increase 6%.
For UArizona, officials planned to raise tuition for incoming students by 3% for Arizona residents and 4% for non-residents, starting this fall.
That may not seem like a lot, but it can be for students who are already struggling to make ends meet.
"The proposed tuition increase for in-state, out-of-state, and international students comes with the clear understanding that individual student investment is necessary in this economic environment, especially to ensure that our institution continues to thrive and remain in its global competitiveness," said Andrew Kalthoff, ASU’s student body president, before the vote.
"Hundreds, if not thousands, of other students are unable to pay more. Increasing services for students is vital. Increasing student fees, as a means to that end, is not viable," said another student.
To put things into perspective on inflation in the metro area, consumer prices here rose 9.5% for all of 2022, giving the area the nation's second-highest metro inflation rate last year.
Arizona came second to Miami.
Students and staff at ASU planned to make their voices heard at 10 a.m. Friday near the Student Union, discussing a free remission program and wage increases to offset rising costs.
