Cal State raises undergraduate student fees by 5%

The California State University Board of Trustees on Friday approved a 5% fee increase for undergraduate students for the fall, taking action at a special board meeting in Long Beach.

The fee hike translates to a $204 increase for full-time undergraduates, bringing the total university fee to $4,230 for the 2010-2011 academic year. Including campus fees, the cost for an undergraduate to attend a Cal State campus would rise to $5,097.

The trustees also increased fees for graduate business and professional degree students by 5%. They also approved a 10% fee increase for doctoral education students and eliminated a cap on non-resident tuition for out-of-state students.

The fee increases are expected to help close a $100-million funding gap. The university is counting on additional state revenues and could consider more fee increases in November.

Last fall, undergraduate fees rose 32%, after an unprecedented reduction in state support, resulting in a deficit of $584 million.

Before the meeting, about 30 students held a protest, arguing that trustees should consider alternatives to fee hikes.

-- Carla Rivera in Long Beach

Comments

[upwinger]

This increase in tuition is absolutely necessary so California can continue to have the highest paid university administrators in the world. Although the UK has some very good universities that pay administrators much less than California does and we could always outsource the jobs to them.

[pmg]

Still a bargain. No complaints.

[David R]

At least there's no tuition.

[Anusia]

Here's an idea - fire all the unnecessary beaurocrats. There's no reason to hike up the fees and hold the status quo on staffing (non-educators I'm referring to).

[Anarchy Now]

Just shut the schools and colleges and disband the government!! The only jobs that are available don't even require a fourth grade education, so why bother? We need more morons!! Smart people just confuse things and stir up trouble amongst the poor. And get rid of the police -- allow concealed carry with no permits and let people settle their own disputes! And the roads will last decades with no government around to tear them up for no reason!!

[Patriot]

Yes, still a bargain, but seriously. The price of parking is so heavily subsidized on these campuses, raise parking rates to somewhere near the cost to provide a parking space and you will more than make up the increased tuition costs. Why subsidize parking but charge more for education? Screwed up priorities.

[Sam]

The Cal. State is one of the best advanced education systems in the nations. The States allows oil companies to drill on land and offshore, I would think they would be willing to help the state by funding the gap. Companies like BP, Chevron.
The CS could help in the reseacrh of the high speed rails. The talent at these CS could help in research projects, creating funding for the CS but also starting other types of industries.

[Heather]

@Anusia, the Cal State Chancellor's Office laid off 20 managers last year. Does that make you happy?

[Taxation without representation!]

Are tax payers sharing too much of the funding burden for the State University systems? Students should pay there fair share... Our state universities are a great bargain but the tax payers want relief. Illegal immigrants should not be admitted to state or private universities in the United States.

[Anonymous]

The Trustees approved the 5% increase in student fees on 6/18, yet the CSU budget for 2010/11 will probably increase by approximately $270,000,000 because mandatory furloughs throughout the system are being discontinued. Doesn't make sense.