University of Utah freshmen Lorena Aguilar and Nestora Velasquez are working their way through college, but they worry about keeping their jobs through the economic crisis. That same crisis, meanwhile, will require them to pay an additional $461 in tuition and fees next year under statewide hikes approved Friday by the Board of Regents.
"That is a lot of money. I am already paying a lot. I am helping my family," said Velasquez, a pre-med major. "It not only affects me, but my family too."
Considering the state's ongoing fiscal woes, however, the 7.5 percent average hike could have been much worse for students attending some of the nation's most affordable schools.
"While it would have required a much higher increase in tuition to make up for the state's budget reductions, these proposed increases strike a good balance in meeting the increased demand for services while trimming back to meet budgetary obligations," said Regents chairman Jed Pitcher.
The Utah Legislature recently slashed higher education's budget by 9 percent, and deeper cuts are the future if the economy doesn't turn around. Schools responded by reeling in costs through furloughs and pay cuts, early retirement and layoffs, and deferring equipment purchases. So next year's tuition increase, though significant, is not that far out of line with past hikes.
"It's definitely reasonable, given the economic situation we're in. It's great that it didn't go into double digits," said student Regent Basim Motiwala, a University of Utah senior studying behavioral science and health.
The state has a two-tier system for increasing tuition. The first tier is set by the Utah System of Higher Education to cover increases in compensation, benefits and student aid, while the second tier is advanced by the institutions to cover academic life. Because almost no one will receive a pay increase next year, the first-tier jump was a meager 1 percent, which helped keep the overall tuition increases under control.
"Everything is more expensive and school on top of that. The flip side is that it is less than I thought it would be with the budget cuts," said U. sophomore Jason Carter. "Four hundred is a lot, but it's just part of the deal."
Utah's universities charge about 80 percent of peer institutions nationally, while the state's community colleges tend to charge above-average rates. But stinginess with need-based aid -- Utah offers less than any other state -- works against college affordability here.
The U. and Snow College will see the steepest increases at 9.5 percent -- annual hikes of $430 and $187, respectively. But Snow remains a bargain with the state's lowest tuition at $2,154, said Scott Wyatt, president of the Ephraim-based community college.
"Our challenge is that our tuition is so low that when we have the kind of budget cuts the Legislature gave this year, we have a little bit more to respond to than anyone else," Wyatt said. "When we increased tuition we wanted to make sure we are the best buy of any school out there."
With class sizes averaging 20 students, Wyatt said, Snow offers a great academic experience for freshmen and sophomores, who have a good chance of moving onto Brigham Young University, the state's most selective school.
The smallest hikes are SLCC's 4 percent, amounting to $90, and Utah State University's 5.5 percent, or $211.
"We are not only a research university, but as a land grant institution we have a presence around the state with regional campuses. On the other hand, we play almost a community-college role, so access is an important part of our mission," said USU president Stan Albrecht. "Looking at our tuition, we are near the bottom among our peer institutions. Utah is last in the nation in need-based aid. We don't have the dollars to offer, we try to take that into account."
After coupling USU's tuition hike with a $130 fee increase to support its deficit-plagued intercollegiate athletics program, however, Aggies will feel as much pain as anyone but the Utes.
Tribune staff writer Tom Wharton contributed to this report.
