The state Board of Regents finalized tuition increases for Utah’s public colleges and universities Tuesday, while asking institution presidents to increase awareness about available financial aid.
In March, Regents approved a 3.5 percent tuition increase for all state institutions. On Tuesday, Regents voted on institution presidents’ recommendations for tuition jumps that would surpass 3.5 percent.
Regents agreed to U President Bernie Machen’s suggested 9.3 percent tuition and fee increase?which includes the Regents 3.5 percent suggestion?to fund academic programs cut deeply by the state economic downturn.
The increased calls for U undergraduates taking 15 credit hours to pay an additional $284 a year and graduate students taking nine credit hours to pay an extra $230 a year.
But other schools’ increases are not as simple.
Utah Valley State College divided its increase into upper division (9 percent) and lower division (19.5 percent). Utah State University decided to ask incoming freshman to pay more than those already enrolled?a difference of more than $60 a year.
Regent Co-Chairman Charlie Johnson expressed concern over the large tuition hikes, hoping the significant increases will not continue year after year.
Johnson blames this year’s state revenue shortfall for the unusually large tuition jumps.
Regent Co-Chairwoman Pamela Atkinson urged Regents to require presidents of all state colleges and universities to do a better job at advertising the availability of financial aid.
Atkinson believes the availability of federal and state aid will help combat the large tuition increases keeping students in class and on target for a speedy graduation.