Tuition going up at state colleges

Associated Press

SPOKANE — Students at Washington’s public colleges and universities better prepare for sticker shock.

Washington State University regents on Wednesday tentatively adopted undergraduate tuition increases totaling nearly 13 percent over two years, and other schools are expected to follow suit.

WSU’s regents unanimously approved resident undergraduate tuition increases of 6.7 percent this fall and 6.1 percent for 2002-2003 — the maximum allowed by state lawmakers under a budget proposal on its way to Gov. Gary Locke.

Western Washington University’s trustees on Friday tentatively adopted a hike for next fall at the 2001-2002 cap set by the Legislature, but held off on a decision for 2002-2003 tuition.

At the University of Washington, regents will meet July 5 to consider tuition and other matters, university spokesman Bob Roseth said. University President Richard McCormick has not forwarded a recommendation to regents.

Evergreen State College’s trustees are expected to take up the same issue July 11.

Until 1999, lawmakers set the tuition themselves. That year, they granted limited tuition control to the boards governing Washington’s six four-year schools and the Board for Community and Technical Colleges, which is due to consider increases for the state’s 34 two-year colleges at a meeting in Spokane Thursday.

At WSU’s regents’ meeting in Pullman, university President V. Lane Rawlins said he expected other campuses would follow WSU’s and WWU’s lead with increases at or near the maximum allowed.

"I do not favor high tuition, and I hate raising tuition," Rawlins told regents in recommending the increases.

But, he added, any smaller increases would force the university to cut academic programs and leave WSU short of what it needs to adopt state-mandated faculty salary increases.

WSU’s tuition for in-state undergraduates was $3,350 this past academic year — excluding student services and activities fees — and would rise to $3,574 next year. Even then, WSU tuition would remain below the average at schools of similar size and quality to WSU, Rawlins said.

Regents cited concerns about tuition costs that have far outpaced inflation for more than decade. They also worried about further burdening students who graduate in debt.

WSU student leaders grudgingly accepted the increases.

Higher tuition is needed "just to maintain the status quo of educational quality," student body president Jesse Keene told regents.

WSU’s graduate students will get something of a break. Rather than approving increases up to the maximum levels, regents approved graduate hikes of 3.5 percent for each of the next two academic years.

In 1995, state lawmakers abandoned a formula that set tuition at Washington’s top-rung research universities at one-third the amount of a student’s total instructional cost.

Today, tuition covers more than 40 percent of instructional cost, Rawlins said.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Julia Zavgorodniy waves at her family after scanning the crowd to find them during Mariner High School’s 2025 commencement on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Dream without limit’: Thousands of Snohomish County seniors graduate

Graduations at the arena conclude this weekend with three Everett high schools on Saturday and Monroe High School on Sunday.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen goes through an informational slideshow about the current budget situation in Edmonds during a roundtable event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor recommends $19M levy lid lift for November

The city’s biennial budget assumed a $6 million levy lid lift. The final levy amount is up to the City Council.

A firefighting helicopter carries a bucket of water from a nearby river to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Snohomish County property owners can prepare for wildfire season

Clean your roofs, gutters and flammable material while completing a 5-foot-buffer around your house.

(City of Everett)
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag

City staff said a stadium could be built for $82 million, lower than previous estimates. Bonds and private investment would pay for most of it.

Jennifer Humelo, right, hugs Art Cass outside of Full Life Care Snohomish County on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Full Life Care in Everett, which supports adults with disabilities, will shut its doors July 19 due to state funding challenges.

‘No Kings’ rallies draw thousands to Everett and throughout Snohomish County

Demonstrations were held nationwide to protest what organizers say is overreach by President Donald Trump and his administration.

Marysville is planning a new indoor sports facility, 350 apartments and a sizable hotel east of Ebey Waterfront Park. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New report shifts outlook of $25M Marysville sports complex

A report found a conceptual 100,000-square-foot sports complex may require public investment to pencil out.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Snohomish County Board of Health looking to fill vacancy

The county is accepting applications until the board seat is filled.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.