University officials are defending the increasing cost of higher education in Arizona, citing budget cuts and exemplary programs on campus.
But student leaders and one member of the state's Board of Regents say Arizona students could lose out if costs continue to soar.
A survey by the nonprofit College Board released Thursday found that Arizona universities now charge more for in-state tuition than the national average for the first time in at least 25 years.
Traditionally, Arizona's universities have charged in-state tuition well below the national average, but recent tuition increases - including a 20.4 percent University of Arizona tuition hike for this school year - have changed that. Tuition increases are partially a reaction to decreased state funding of the university system. Over the past two years, the state Legislature has cut $200 million in funding from the state university system.
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The national average for tuition and fees is $7,605, and the University of Arizona charges $8,237 for in-state freshmen.
Tuition for next school year will be set by the Arizona Board of Regents in April.
The results of the meeting are dreaded by Elma Delic - spokeswoman for the Arizona Students Association - a UA senior who plans to go to law school next year.
"As a student, dealing with these increases semester after semester, this comes as no surprise," Delic said, noting National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs findings that the state ranks 48th in the country for state-funded financial aid.
According to the NASSGAP, the state of Arizona provides just $54 of need-based aid per student, well below the national average of $476.
Most students don't pay the full tuition cost. Grants and federally subsidized loans defray some of the cost. Of all tuition and fees paid to state universities, universities set aside 17 percent for financial aid. Nearly one-third of full-time undergraduates didn't pay any tuition or fees.
Regents spokeswoman Katie Paquet said the College Board's findings are skewed because they take institutions of all sizes into account, including non-research entities. The regents select a group of peer research institutions of similar size and stature - the UA's group includes the University of Iowa, University of Florida and Michigan State University - to help determine tuition rates.
Paquet said all three state universities charge below-average tuition compared with their respective peer sets. She said the peer sets don't change often. Although the last change took place last year, the previous sets had been in place for a decade.
Regent Rick Myers said the tuition hikes are necessary, but he acknowledged that at some point families could be priced out of a college education, or universities might slash departments.
"It's reaching the point where there's not going to be a lot of elasticity if tuition keeps going up," Myers said. "It's going to lock more and more people out of education, which wouldn't be good."
The Arizona Republic contributed to this report. Contact reporter Phil Villarreal at 573-4130 or pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
