COST OF EDUCATION A 5 percent increase in tuition for most Utah schools will go into effect next year

Earlier in March, the Board of Trustees approved a 4.4 percent tuition increase for the 2013-14 school year. On March 29, the Board of Regents not only approved the 4.4 percent increase, but raised it to 5 percent.
Although 5 percent is the lowest tuition increase in the past 10 years at the U, it is still part of an almost 38 percent increase in the past five years.
“Higher education saw a budget increase this year and we are pleased that the Legislature made support for higher education a priority,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Dave Buhler in a statement. “However, legislative funding did not cover all mandatory cost increases, and so some tuition increases are needed in order to fully fund personnel, student support and, in some cases, cover revenue shortfalls from temporary declines in enrollment.”
The tuition increase comes in two tiers. The first is the amount set by the Board of Trustees: 4.4 percent. The second tier is the additional increase requested by the individual schools. The U requested 0.6 percent for a total increase of 5 percent.
The state’s budget following the legislative session appropriates just over $467 million to the U, which is divided among the medical school, general funding and education funding needs as well as various colleges and programs on campus. After the legislative session closed, Gov. Gary Herbert signed SB 51, which gives the universities and colleges in Utah permission to grant out-of-state students in-state tuition, losing funds paid by those from out of state.
The majority of the increase will be absorbed into faculty and staff benefits and salary increases.
“We appreciate the Legislature’s investment in higher education, which allows us to keep tuition increases to a minimum,” said Bonnie Jean Beesley, chair of the Board of Regents, in a statement. “We will need continued investment by the Legislature to allow us to progress toward meeting the state’s 66 percent goal.”
The 66 percent goal is a plan Herbert set to have 66 percent of Utah adults gain postsecondary degrees or certificates by 2020.
Along with the U, Utah State University, Weber State University, Southern Utah University, Snow College and Dixie State University will also receive a 5 percent tuition increase. Utah Valley University and Salt Lake Community College will receive a 6 percent tuition increase because of their declining enrollment rates.
The Daily Utah Chronicle reported in February the student loan debt topped household debt in the United States in 2013.