ASU, UA, NAU tuition rates could soar by 15% next year

Tuition could increase by double digits for all students at the University of Arizona and for new students entering in fall 2009 at Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University as schools struggle to balance their budgets in a sluggish economy.

The state Board of Regents is considering proposals that could hike the price tag for college by a maximum 10 to 15 percent for the 2009-10 school year, depending on the university. The board won't set tuition until December, but members plan to discuss maximum-tuition ranges at their meeting today in Flagstaff.

Students who are enrolled this fall at two of the three state universities are part of a guaranteed-tuition plan that gives them more modest increases next year. For those students, ASU's rates are projected to go up a maximum 5 percent and NAU's are expected to increase by 3 percent.

UA students, however, don't have guaranteed tuition and would be subject to the same rates as new students.

Some regents warn that steep increases may be necessary because of an expected state-budget deficit for the next school year. This year, the universities saw a $50 million, or 3 percent, cut in their state funding.

The regents have a three-step process to approving tuition rates this year. The board is expected to set a maximum range today; then, the university presidents in November will ask for what they think they need, and then, the board will vote on the rates.

If the board approves a maximum range today, the three presidents could not ask for more than that limit when they present their tuition recommendations to the board.

"Just because the board sets a maximum parameter doesn't mean the board will allow everyone to go to the maximum," said Sandra Woodley, the board's chief financial officer. "It's not a done deal. They still have to vote on the whole package."

If the maximum was to be approved, tuition and fees for new undergraduate students who are Arizona residents would be $6,275 a year, which breaks down to $598 more a year at ASU, $811 more for NAU and $726 more for UA.

The regents also could opt for a midrange increase for new students - at a maximum of 7 to 8 percent - or go with a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment.

Tuition rates vary depending on the university. ASU has the most expensive tuition and fees, at nearly $5,700 a year. Graduate and out-of-state students pay higher rates, and some individual colleges and satellite campuses charge different prices.

Tuition is always a contentious topic. Students generally prefer to see no increases or modest ones, while university presidents have advocated for higher rates. The regents have often voted somewhere in between.

In the past decade, increases have sometimes varied wildly. In 2003, for instance, the regents boosted tuition rates by nearly 40 percent; the previous year, they raised prices 4 percent.

The state is still slightly below the national average of $6,185 a year for public universities, according to the College Board, which tracks prices. The state's universities also have increased the amount of financial aid available to students.

Recently, some regents, Gov. Janet Napolitano and university presidents have advocated giving families more predictability over college costs. In that spirit, ASU and NAU began offering guaranteed tuition for students who started this fall.

ASU agreed to cap future tuition increases for students starting this fall at 5 percent while NAU capped tuition at this year's prices, excluding fees, for four years.

UA opted against taking part in guaranteed tuition because its president, Robert Shelton, said he couldn't guarantee what future regents would choose.

The regents haven't decided whether to continue guaranteed tuition for students who start school in fall 2009, but they are considering it.

Board member Ernie Calderon said he has not decided what would be the best tuition option.

"I want to make sure tuition is as affordable as possible, but we also have this budget crisis that we're facing, so it's going to have to be a very careful balance," he said. "Candidly, it's going to be quite a struggle to achieve that balance."

The possibility of much higher prices worries parents such as E'Lisa Harrison of Phoenix. She has a 19-year-old son at ASU and is also considering the school for her 11-year-old son once he graduates.

She favors tying tuition to cost-of-living increases and making more financial aid available for students with high grade-point averages.

"I believe in quality education and feel public school should make it affordable for anyone who wants to attend without surmounting loads of debt in the process," Harrison said.

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