CSU Tuition Increases Additional 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 due to a planned reduction in state funding for the CSU system, state university officials said in a press release.

California's 2011-2012 adopted budget calls for cutting $650 million from the state university system, bringing state funding for CSU to $2.1 billion.

That represents "the lowest level of state support the system has received since the 1998-99 fiscal year," according to the press release.

An additional $100 million could be slashed mid-year if state revenue forecasts are not met.

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

Tuition will now rise an additional $294 per semester for full-time undergraduate students, bringing the annual tuition fee for undergraduate students to $5,472 for the 2011-12 school year, not including campus-based fees which average $950 a year.

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

For students like 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 tuitions that wasn’t covered,” said Reyes, who has been attending CSU East Bay for one year.

The reduction in state funding has left the state university system with "no other choice if we are to maintain quality and access to the CSU," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed in the press statement. 

"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, CSU will maintain offering as many classes as possible and keeping its open enrollment for spring 2012, which is important for community college transfer students, Reed said.

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

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