The UC Board of Regents voted to increase tuition for future academic cohorts today as a part of the reauthorization of the UC Tuition Stability Plan.
The Tuition Stability Plan, initially approved in 2021, keeps tuition at a flat rate for undergraduate students for up to six years and allows tuition increases between yearly cohorts. Effectively, it means each student pays a set price for all of their college years, but the price increases for the next class.
The proposal adds three amendments to the original Tuition Stability Plan.The first amendment is to maintain the 5% cap on tuition increases but allow any of the 5% not used to roll over to future years.
Additionally, it would reduce the return-to-aid rate on tuition and student services fees — the amount of tuition and fees set aside for financial aid — from 45% to 40%. Finally, the plan adds a fungible 1% increase on top of annual inflation-based increases for campuses to use where they see fit.
The UC Office of the President, or UCOP, which authored the plan, claimed that preliminary findings show the plan, which has been in effect for years, has resulted in greater financial aid for students opposed to a scenario where no tuition increases were implemented.
UCOP also claimed that students with family incomes under $120,000 will see a reduction in net cost;however, students with family incomes more than $120,000 are expected to have an increased net cost.According to a 2024 report, approximately 45% of UC students have family incomes of more than $120,000.
“Tuition increases are never welcome but moderate and predictable increases are necessary to sustain the quality of education that our students deserve,” said UC President James B. Milliken. “The tuition stability plan developed with broad input including from students ensures predictability for families and supports the strong financial aid program that brings a UC education within reach for many.”
The original reauthorization proposal in the July regents meeting included raising the tuition increase cap from 5% to 7% and reducing the return-to-aid rate on increases to undergraduate fees from 45% to 35%. There was no vote on the original proposal in July.
“I strongly oppose the proposed tuition increases that will effectively raise tuition 34% over the 6 years this plan will be in place,” said Lt. Gov. and ex officio Regent Eleni Kounalakis in an email. “It is wrong to endlessly raise UC tuition, putting the entire financial burden of closing structural deficits on the backs of our students.”
There has been opposition to this plan from the ASUC, theUC Student Association, or UCSA, and speakers in public comment at the current regents meeting.
The meeting was interrupted by multiple protestors which led to UC Regents Chair Janet Reilly declaring the protests an “unlawful assembly.” Reilly then suspended the meeting for seven minutes.
The ASUC passed a resolution sponsored by External Affairs Vice President Calvin Yang urging the regents to not pass any proposed changes and switch from the tuition stability plan.UCSA released a statement saying it is inappropriate for students to pay tuition for capital development projects, particularly when many are struggling with housing and food costs.
“I hope the regents take student concerns and student affordability issues front and center in their decision to vote,” Yang said.