ASU proposes moderate, predictable tuition increase

November 06, 2008

Arizona State University is proposing to continue with the small-to-moderate, predictable tuition increase policy that was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in 2007. That plan limits tuition increases for returning in-state undergraduate students to five percent per year for up to five years after enrollment. Under the plan, new in-state undergraduate students will pay rate consistent with the Board of Regents’ policy and then will be given the same five percent increase cap for up to the next four years. With the five percent increase, continuing in-state students in the second year of their guarantee will pay $5,316 on the Tempe and Downtown Phoenix campuses and $5,093 on the Polytechnic and West campuses. Those entering the first year of their guarantee will pay $5,679 on all campuses. New in-state undergraduate students will pay $5,997, and the rate for in-state graduate students will be $7,128. Out-of-state undergraduate and graduate student tuition will also increase by five percent to $18,582 and $20,322, respectively. University officials believe the 2007 framework for modest and predictable tuition increases is particularly important in these times of economic uncertainty because it enables students and their families to plan for the cost of a college education. In addition, ASU offers abundant financial aid to students and families at various income levels so that academically qualified students are not denied an education for financial reasons. ASU, by design, remains one of the best bargains in the country, having one of the lowest levels of tuition of any senior research university in the nation. Six years ago, undergraduate in-state tuition was less than $2,500, an inadequately low number that covered a small fraction of the cost of providing an ASU education. For years, this tuition level, which ranked 49 among the 50 state senior research universities, was coupled with lean state budgets that decreased ASU’s state funding on a per-student basis. The result was the university was financially starved. Faculty members who left the university were not replaced, and classes became too large. Student retention and graduation were consistently among the lowest in the PAC-10. With the tuition increases of the last few years – along with increased state funding – ASU has been able to hire and retain more faculty, decrease class size, extend library hours, buy new educational technology and generally improve its academic quality. This is directly reflected in the increase in the university’s graduation rate, which is now 24 percent higher than that of the average public university. The proposed tuition for incoming in-state students is a rate equal to the top of the lower one-third of last year’s rates at senior research university tuitions, in compliance with Arizona Board of Regents Policy. ASU is ranked 38 out of the 50 states on that list. ASU will also continue to offer a guaranteed tuition program. View the guaranteed <a href="http://www.asu.edu/yourtuition/">tuition program rates.</a> Fee Proposal<separator></separator>A tuition differential for the junior and senior undergraduates in the College of Design, College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation, and the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering is being requested. These new tuition requests for the respective professional schools are needed to provide the appropriate level of instruction and academic support for students and include a minimum 15 percent set aside for financial aid. The W. P. Carey School of Business is requesting a differential tuition increase of an additional $150 per semester, and the Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness is proposing to align its fee structure with W. P. Carey with the exception of the professional golf management program, which already has a set of fees based on PGA requirements. At the graduate level, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law is requesting an increase to $11,250, from $9,250. The only new class fee is within the College of Technology and Innovation and includes a series of course fees related to the air traffic controller program. View the <a href="http://www.asu.edu/yourtuition/documents/2008/Program_Fees_Summary.pdf"… fees</a>. Tuition Hearings<separator></separator>Tuition hearings are scheduled to take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Nov. 17, at the following locations: • Tempe campus, Old Main, Carson Ballroom, 3rd floor • Polytechnic campus, Academic Center, room 147 • West campus, University Center, La Sala C • Downtown Phoenix campus, University Center room 107 Those who cannot attend the hearing can send their comments via e-mail to Stella Galaviz, Arizona Board of Regents, at stella.galaviz@azregents.edu or by regular mail, at 2020 N. Central Ave., Suite 230, Phoenix, AZ 85004, or by fax to (602) 229-2555. All comments received before Nov. 28 will be shared with the regents in advance of the Dec. 5 ABOR meeting. To review specific differential tuition for school, program and course fee increases, visit the <a href="http://www.asu.edu/yourtuition/">Your Tuition Web site</a>. MEDIA CONTACT:

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