Tuition and fees for University of Colorado Colorado Springs in-state undergraduate lower division students would increase by 4.62 percent in 2016-17 under a budget proposal the CU Board of Regents heard Feb. 19.
The board heard 2016-17 budget proposals from all four campuses at its regular meeting Feb. 18-19 at UCCS. The regents are expected to vote on the budgets at their April 5-6 meeting at the Denver campus.
Under its proposed budget, the UCCS 2016-17 annual tuition and fees for resident undergraduate lower division students would total $9,863, a $435 increase over 2015-16. Tuition would increase 3.76 percent, or $300, to $8,280, while fees would rise by $135 to $1,583.
An expected $20 million in state budget cuts to higher education will likely mean a lower merit pool, deferred maintenance and budget cuts aimed at keeping tuition low across the CU system, officials said.
The pool for merit raises for UCCS staff would amount to a 1.6 percent increase under the proposal.
At UCCS, state budget cuts are expected to equate to a 1.83 percent cut to the UCCS budget for the next academic year, amounting to $410,676, said Susan Szpyrka, senior vice chancellor, Administration and Finance.
Enrollment this year is higher than last year but is slightly under budget, she told the Board of Regents, with several initiatives underway to ensure strong enrollment next year. Enrollment is projected to grow to 11,769 students in 2016-17 from 11,299 this academic year. The campus is expected to grow to 13,041 students by 2020.
“UCCS continues to demonstrate a commitment to attracting quality students,” Szpyrka told the regents.
CU Boulder officials offered the regents two options for possible tuition increases. Under one, tuition would increase 3 percent yearly for the next four academic years.
Under a second proposal, CU Boulder would create its first-ever resident undergraduate tuition guarantee. The goal is to provide more certainty to parents and students considering a CU Boulder education. Under the tuition guarantee plan, tuition would increase 5 percent each year for that incoming cohort as well as that year’s sophomores, juniors and seniors, then remain the unchanged for each cohort. Under the plan, undergraduate resident tuition would increase from $9,778 in 2016-17 to $11,319 in 2019-20.
CU Boulder’s tuition proposals sparked lively discussion among the regents. Regent Stephen Ludwig said he appreciated the thought behind the tuition guarantee but said he is concerned about the amount that tuition would rise over four years. Regent Linda Shoemaker noted that CU Boulder tuition increases have been as high as 8 percent in recent years, and she praised the proposal for bringing predictability to tuition.
UCCS can not consider a tuition guarantee at this time, Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak told regents.
“It wouldn’t be prudent,” she said, noting that UCCS tuition and fees already are lower than at Boulder.
To see the presentation to regents: http://bit.ly/20VPI0l.
CU System coverage of the Regents meeting
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