New state budget numbers proposed by Gov. Jan Brewer have higher education officials preparing to raise tuition again for the 2010-11 school year.
Before the Arizona Board of Regent’s budget hearing in March, the ASU, UA and NAU presidents will look at their projected budgets and determine how to cover expenses and whether a tuition increase will be necessary.
ABOR president Ernest Calderon said Brewer’s budget propositions point to a hard road ahead for Arizona universities.
“I don’t see how we cannot raise tuition,” he said. “The money just is not there.”
Each year, tuition is collected by the universities and sent to the state to be tabulated. The state then redistributes the money back to the universities, typically in the form of monthly payments.
In December, the state deferred a $35 million payment to ASU — money the University can’t do without for long, Calderon said.
Paul Senseman, a spokesman for the governor’s office, said ASU should expect more deferred payments until at least February.
“The governor communicated to the Board of Regents that universities and others should be prepared for future disruptions,” Senseman said, pointing to the failure of the state Legislature to pass the governor’s proposed budget bill.
Calderon said it’s still too early to estimate how much tuition would be raised.
“We’re going to look at the revenue streams and at what the demand is going to be,” he said.
ASU’s last tuition increase was in 2009, raising tuition by 9.8 percent from the previous year, the largest margin since 2004.
“We’re already taking a look at the budget and asking the (university) presidents to pencil out where they think they are headed,” Calderon said. “It is an informal process at this stage.”
ABOR’s tuition hearing on March 1 will allow for the regents to examine Brewer’s budget proposal and respond accordingly, he said.
Students will be able to voice their concerns along with various student government groups on a date to be determined, Calderon said.
Currently, ASU’s tuition is set at $5,997 per year for Arizona residents, and in the 2009-2010 school year, ABOR approved a one-time surcharge of $510.
That tuition level remains low on the national scale, where the average four-year in-state public college was $7,020 per year in 2009-2010, according to the Annual Survey of Colleges by The College Board.
Since the 2008-2009 academic year, the national average in tuition rose 6.5 percent. Over that same period, ASU’s tuition increased by 10.9 percent.
Students who receive financial aid in the form of a Pell Grant may not see an increase in the grant until 2012. The maximum amount for a grant is frozen at $5,350 per year for students who meet the highest level of financial need.
Justice studies freshman Mathew Adams said tuition should stay where it is.
“I think it is high enough,” he said, “If you are offering the same education for a higher price year after year, then where is the money going?”
Reach the reporter at kpatton4@asu.edu
