CSU Tuition Increases 12 Percent

Students of the California State University system will see a significant hike in costs next semester.

The CSU Board of Trustees approved a 12 percent tuition increase on Tuesday, as a result of a reduction of state funding to the CSU system, according to a CSU press release.

The CSU is expected to receive $650 million less this fiscal year than last year, for a total of $2.1 billion in state funds.

The 12 percent increase comes after the trustees already approved a 10 percent — or $222 — per semester tuition increase for fall in November.

This means that overall tuition will increase by $294 per semester for full-time undergraduate students, which totals $588 more for the entire year. This brings the annual tuition fee for undergraduate students to $5,472, not including campus-based fees.

In addition, tuition  will increase by $339 each semester for credential programs and by $360 more for graduate students.

For students like Tri-City resident Amy Reyes, the additional $588 will likely make an impact.

“Without the increases, I was still struggling, having to add my own money for books and tuition that wasn’t covered,” said Reyes, who has been attending CSU East Bay for one year.

CSU officials said in a press release issued Tuesday that the reduction in state funding has left the CSU with “no other choice if we are to maintain quality and access to the CSU," according to CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. 

"The magnitude of this cut, compounded with the uncertainty of the final amount of the reduction, will have negative impacts on the CSU long after this upcoming fiscal year has come and gone,” Reed said.

Still, the CSU will continue offering as many classes as possible and will keep its open enrollment for spring, 2012, which is important for community college transfer students, Reed said.

About one-third of the revenue from the tuition increases will go toward financial aid, covering tuition for approximately 170,000 students, according to the press release.

The 2011-12 budget that allocates $2.1 billion in state funding to the CSU will be “the lowest level of state support the system has received since the 1998-99 fiscal year,” according to the press release.

CSU serves approximately 412,000 students on 23 campuses throughout the state.