Regents approve tuition freezes

In-state student rates hold; other costs to rise

The Arizona Board of Regents voted Thursday not to increase tuition for most in-state students for the next school year, but universities will raise tuition for other students as well prices for housing, meal plans and class fees.

Regents Chair Larry Penley said the tuition freezes reflect the state’s public universities’ commitment to its students.

“This is a bold step and I appreciate the university presidents for doing so in the face of anticipated loss revenue, in the face of the increased expenses all of us have seen this spring," he said.

The board passed the University of Arizona’s new Veterinary Medicine program's tuition rates of $45,000 for in-state students and nearly $70,000 for nonresident students.

The universities' proposals also included raising costs for meal plans, housing and student fees.

Northern Arizona University proposed the highest meal plan increase — about 8.6%. NAU President Rita Cheng said the increase will offset dining labor costs which went up after Flagstaff raised the city’s minimum wage.

The board also approved a variety of tuition increases for out-of-state, online and international students.The question now is whether nonresidents will be willing to return to university campuses in the fall.

UA President Robert Robbins said models predict 80% of first year international students won’t be able to return on campus.

Board members have previously said they won’t consider raising instate tuition rates for the upcoming academic year so ASU, UA and NAU remain accessible for students during tough economic times stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.