Tuition talks have already begun, and ASU President Michael Crow said he wouldn't ask for more than a 10 percent increase, which would mean an additional $406 to current tuition for in-state students.
University tuition has increased by 73 percent since 2000, but Crow says it will remain in the bottom one-third of the nation's universities.
The Arizona Board of Regents won't decide the actual amount until April, but Crow said his recommendation would likely be made public by early February.
"I have not made my mind up as to what our final recommendation will be, I'm still waiting for input from [Undergraduate Student Government President Sophie O'Keefe-Zelman] and from the other student leaders," he said.
Regent Ernest Calderon said with the scant budget proposed by Gov. Janet Napolitano, he hopes to see a less than 5 percent increase.
"Presently, based on the governor's budget and the needs that we have, my point of departure is a 4 percent increase," he said.
O'Keefe-Zelman said she hopes an online survey released to students this week would give some insight into where students want tuition monies to go and what percent increase would be necessary to meet the suggestions.
"What we plan to propose is the lowest increase possible in order to ensure quality funding," she said.
This is the third year in which a questionnaire has been released by the USG, and while it is not scientific, O'Keefe-Zelman said it has helped in previous years to give voices to students who would not otherwise be able to contribute to the decision process.
"It's just a simple questionnaire to allow students to let us know where they want tuition to go in the future," O'Keefe-Zelman said.
The USG also is planning two tuition forums this semester, the first to be held Feb. 21 with Crow.
Financial aid, smaller class sizes and classroom improvements are the biggest issues, O'Keefe-Zelman said.
Crow said many of these issues were top priority for the administration.
"[The administration and students] are basically in alignment ... we have a rare occurrence here," he said. "We actually want the same things."
O'Keefe-Zelman said the disagreement often comes later.
"What they usually disagree on is the cost to get those things, i.e., tuition increase numbers," she said.
Art freshman Lauren Huesmann said she is hoping for the lowest possible increase in tuition.
"If I have to pay higher tuition, it's probably going to affect me living on campus," she said.
Jacob Peschman, a biology senior, said he is also hoping for the bare minimum.
Peschman said he would like to see tuition go to smaller class sizes rather than a building he won't be able to use before he graduates in December.
"You're put in a situation where you're forced to pay whatever raise they want."
Reach the reporter at rkost@asu.edu.
