The California State University Board of Trustees voted 15-5 to approve an annual, multi-year, tuition increase on Sept. 13, affecting students who attend each of the 23 CSUs, including California State University, Bakersfield. This proposal will start in Fall 2024.
The vote to approve this proposal means tuition will now increase by $342 for undergraduates, $432 for graduates, and $402 for credential students in 2024-25. The 6% increase will continue annually through 2028-29.
According to CSU Trustees, this tuition proposal is the best solution for a more stable tuition rate.
“If we approve this item, it means that students and their families will have the information that they need in order to be knowledgeable consumers, that is, they will know how much they need to pay in tuition every semester, every year until they graduate successfully,” said Faculty Trustee Darlene Yee-Melichar.
Prior to the vote, many students across the CSU system attended the Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 12 to give public comment, including Daisy Alamillo, CSUB ASI president and CEO.
Alamillo asked the board to prolong the vote until November 2023 to examine the effects of the most vulnerable populations in the system.
“As a first-generation Latina student who belongs in the 40% that will be truly affected by this increase, I would say, ‘Please ensure that this is not just a modest request. Please ensure that you look at every single avenue except for raising tuition to students,’” said Alamillo during public comment.
According to Alamillo, while the proposal was announced during the summer, with the vote taking place two weeks into the semester, it is difficult to advocate and inform students when they are not on campus. Alamillo said prolonging the vote would have also allowed ASI to do more outreach to students.
Alamillo also said ASI held a meeting with Raji Kaur Brar, a CSU trustee and CSUB alumni, to voice their concerns with the tuition proposal. Brar is one of the 15 trustees who voted to pass the tuition increase.
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.

“I have to take out loans subsidized and unsubsidized loans. I do receive the Pell Grant and Cal Grant, but it was only able to cover half this year. That’s why I’m taking out loans,” said Minaya Valentine, a third-year environmental research management student.
Valentine says she spends about $500 extra on textbooks, her parking permit, gas, and more, so this tuition increase will make her more financially vulnerable.
“I know students who apply for emergency grants, students who don’t receive any funding from parents, including myself, and having to navigate themselves already at the current tuition rate, it’s frustrating,” said Valentine.
Alamillo said ASI will try to fight for student issues on campus at a systemwide level with the Cal State Student Association.
ASI also plans to educate students and ensure they have access to resources at CSUB, such as the Food Pantry, Edible Garden, Services for Students with Disabilities, and the MAGEC Center, to support those affected by the tuition proposal.
“Even as this tuition increase happens, you know it will be effective into Fall of 2024. So, this year we really try to ensure that students are educated on those resources and, hopefully, those resources will help them persevere here at their time at CSUB,” said Alamillo.
The tuition proposal will be under review every five years with the CSSA along with the board.