Students at California State University, Bakersfield, along with the other 22 universities in the CSU system, may face a potential tuition increase over the next five years.
A multi-year tuition increase could begin in Fall 2024 if approved by the CSU Board of Trustees on Sept. 13. If the CSU trustees pass this proposal, tuition will increase by 6% every year starting Fall 2024 through the 2028-29 school year. Undergraduate tuition would increase by $342, graduate by $432, and credential by $402 within the first year.
According to Ryan Storm, CSU assistant vice chancellor for the system budget, 60% of the students are fully covered by non-loan aid, 18% are partially paid by non-loan aid, and 4% are required to pay tuition from loans. The remaining 18% of students did not apply for aid, whom Storm said may be paying their tuition on their own.
A tuition increase will also increase financial help for students, according to Steve Relyea, CSU executive vice chancellor and chief financial officer.
“It [tuition increase] will ensure more financial aid available for non-tuition expenses,” said Relyea.
Relyea said that the 18% of students who get partial financial aid to cover their tuition will most likely increase if this proposal is not passed.
“I am a student worker who doesn’t get paid much trying to pay rent and support myself while paying off my tuition because financial aid does not cover my full tuition,” said Angel Garza, a fourth-year biology student at CSUB.
Garza said that as a student who lives off-campus, he relies on financial aid to help pay his rent. His financial aid has been reduced and, with tuition increasing, it would be hard for him to fully pay tuition on his own.
“It would reduce the amount of refund that I receive,” said Adrian Muro, a third-year mathematics major at CSUB.
Muro is also a housing worker at CSUB, but his pay goes to his dorm and meal plan, meaning it does not cover his tuition expenses. Muro said that he relies on his reimbursement for emergencies and believes that this 6% increase will affect any student who depends on the reimbursement from financial aid.
Storm said the CSUs would use the extra revenue they would receive from the tuition increase. They plan on increasing the funding for the state university grant program, more student service, basic needs, and mental health support. They also plan to use the revenue to cover ongoing CSU costs, new infrastructure, and compensation to attract and hold onto current faculty and staff.
According to Relyea, a tuition increase will mean better education and help meet more educational needs for students.
Relyea also said that CSU has struggled with financial sustainability and predictability. So, this proposal would make it more predictable. The last time tuition rose was in 2011, but it was only once. This made tuition less predictable than it would be if the proposal was passed.
The CSU Board of Trustees will vote on the multi-year tuition proposal on Sept. 13. To watch the livestream of the board meeting, visit the CSU website.
