Sun Devils were buzzing after ASU President Michael Crow released a proposal on Friday that increased the cost of University tuition by 3 percent for out-of-state and graduate students for the 2014-15 academic year.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Crow said the University's administration did not "want finances to be a barrier for attendance or success for any student at ASU," but some students have questioned the consequences of higher attendance costs for themselves and their peers.
Students will have the opportunity to further voice their opinions on the matter in a Memorial Union forum on March 25, before the Arizona Board of Regents votes on the implementation of state university tuition plans April 3.
(Photo by Megann Phillips)Intermedia art sophomore Kara Bigham
“I think it’s kind of unfair that the higher tuition is just for graduates and out-of-state students. I know that out-of-state students already pay a higher tuition, and I don’t want to put myself (as an in-state student) at risk for higher tuition by saying, ‘Make it equal,’ but I really don’t think they should implement it. I think the tuition is already really high. I can’t imagine paying out-of-state tuition.”
(Photo by Megann Phillips)Business communication freshman Jameela Tucker
“I’d say that the tuition increase could be a good idea, but I would like to know where the money goes. I want to know how the increase in tuition benefits students here. Why do we have to pay so much?”
(Photo by Megann Phillips)English freshman Michael Cohen
“I’m in-state, so it doesn’t really affect me, but tuition is already very high for everyone here, and an increase in it would definitely suck.”
(Photo by Megann Phillips)Global studies sophomore Nicholas Willey
“Paying an extra $700 per year could break someone’s bank. ASU has over 76,000 students, so why do they need to increase tuition? I don’t see why they need to increase the tuition of some students when they are already being paid thousands of dollars by so many others.”
(Photo by Megann Phillips)Secondary education junior Caitlin Brand
“I don’t think it’s fair that they haven’t proposed an increased in-state tuition also. Being out-of-state is so expensive as it is. I’m in the teachers college, and on top of my out-of-state tuition, I have to pay for my transportation to and from schools, and I have to pay for my own background checks.”
(Photo by Megann Phillips)Mechanical engineering sophomore Nolan Scharn
“I plan on doing a graduate program eventually, so I’m a little bit wary of this tuition increase. I think that if they do end up instituting the higher tuition there, they need to make more scholarship opportunities available that will make up for the higher cost of attendance.”
(Photo by Megann Phillips)Biochemistry freshman Lourdes Guiang
“I already think that tuition is too much. If it is increased, students are only going to have to take out more loans and become more in-debt. It will be especially hard for students who are not dependent on their parents — they might need to get a part-time job, and it can be very hard to balance school and work.”
(Photo by Megann Phillips)Accounting senior Lu Wang
“It’s not a small amount of money that they are asking for; it’s big money. Three percent is a lot, but what are they using it for? Are they using it to make the school more beautiful, or to pay more teachers? You have to give something to get something more.”
Reach the reporter at megann.phillips@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @megannphillips
