Students of the California State University system this week received an email notifying them that the CSU board of trustees has approved a multi-year tuition hike that will increase tuition by 6% per year for the next five years.
The decision caused backlash among students, who have been protesting the proposed tuition increase. Opponents of the hike argue that the CSU system is making higher education less accessible and not taking into account students who are financially struggling.
This marks the first tuition hike in the CSU system since 2017. According to the announcement, the five years of tuition increases will generate a total of $860 million in revenue, with a commitment of $280 million of that revenue for financial aid.
For full-time undergraduate students, the tuition hike amounts to an increase of $342 per student to $6,084 in the 2024-25 academic year. By 2028-29, tuition would jump to $7,682. Graduate students’ annual tuition is set to increase by $432 to $7,608 in the 2024-25 school year. By 2028-29 tuition would jump to $9,612.
Such an uptick in tuition prices may force students to spend more time earning money and less on their studies, critics argue. Steve Relyea, CSU executive vice chancellor & chief financial officer, stated in a press release that the tuition hike is essential to provide the CSU with the financial stability it needs to continue to serve students.
The increased tuition revenue will be poured into different areas of the CSU to offer better support for students. The press release lists some priorities:
– Increased funding for the State University Grant (SUG) program
– Academic and student services support
– Basic needs and mental health services
– Title IX implementation and ongoing costs
– Infrastructure, including new facilities and ongoing maintenance
– Compensation to attract and retain outstanding faculty and staff
In an attempt to keep the system affordable for low-income students, Cal State officials have said that about 60% of the roughly 460,000 students enrolled in a CSU will continue to have their tuition costs fully covered by financial aid.
