A proposed $1,000 tuition increase by the presidents of ASU, UA and NAU would be the largest percentage increase in more than 70 years.
In 1931, tuition increased 100 percent from $10 to $20, and the last major increase occurred in 1993 when it jumped 16 percent from $1,528 to $1,778 for in-state undergraduates.
Arizona Board of Regents' President Jack Jewett said he's more familiar with the past five years of tuition history than the last 50.
"In the past five years I've been on the Board, we've increased tuition modestly," Jewett said. "I've been frustrated for those five years that we've never been able to establish what I think is the kind of policy that we're now undertaking for tuition, and that is linking it to financial aid."
Jewett said he's never supported tuition increases that went beyond inflation until now. He added that although an expected increase of 40 percent is steep, it would be accompanied with a 140 percent increase in financial aid.
The Regents have controlled tuition since the school's beginning, at first independently from UA and NAU. The three boards were then consolidated into a single board in 1945.
Although tuition has increased steadily over the years, attending college was once free in Tempe.
In 1886, tuition was free for students attending the Territorial Normal School who promised to teach inside the 13th territory, and $4 for those who did not, according to the "Normal School of Arizona Catalogue" published in 1887.
Starting in 1901, a registration fee of $5 was charged for "student supplies, hospital service, and other such purposes for the benefit of the students and school as the [Arizona Board of Regents] may approve," according to the "Annual Catalogue" published in June 1917.
As the campus grew, so did the amenities paid for with tuition fees.
In 1927, a $10 in-state tuition fee would cover "a year's subscription to the Tempe Collegian, a season ticket to the Lyceum course [a theater performance], free admission to all scheduled games and athletic contests held on campus, and free use of libraries and reading rooms," according to the 1927 annual catalogue for the Tempe State Teachers' College.
Seven name changes and 118 years later, students attending ASU are expecting to shell out about 40 percent more than they did last year, adding up to more than $3,000 per year for in-state undergraduates.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat it," Jewett said. "Tuition is going to go up and financial aid is going to go up."
Reach the reporter at meagan.pollnow@asu.edu.
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In the past, ASU, UA and NAU had similar tuition fees, budgets, enrollment standards and educational focuses. |
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In 2002, the Arizona Board of Regents and university presidents decided it is time to start Changing Directions so each institution can forge separate identities by taking advantage of its individual strengths. |
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This story is the first in an eight-part series examining the possible fee increases. |
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Tuition Through the Years |
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1886: Tuition is free for students who pledge to teach in territory public schools/$4 for non-teachers |
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1910: $5 for teachers/$20 for non-teachers |
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1925: $6 resident/$15 non-resident |
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1930: No tuition (likely due to the Great Depression) |
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1940: $36 resident/$81 non-resident |
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1950: $50 resident/$300 non-resident |
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1960: $182 resident/$450 non-resident |
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1970: $320 resident/$1,210 non-resident |
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1980: $600 resident/$2,500 non-resident |
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1990: $1,478 resident/$6,484 non-resident |
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2000: $2,272 resident/$9,728 non-resident |
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Source: ASU |
