CSU to Hike Tuition by Six Percent for the Next Five Years

The California State University Board of Trustees unanimously voted to raise tuition by six percent a year for the next five years, despite fierce opposition from students and faculty. CSU, the country’s largest public four-year higher education system, has raised tuition only once in the past 12 years. Tuition remains a major bargain by nationwide measures. However, a large percentage of students are underrepresented minorities or the first in their families to attend college. Full-time undergraduates currently pay $5,742. By the 2028–2029 school year, they will be paying $7,682. According to a report released in May, CSU’s revenue covered only 86 percent of its costs, leaving it with a $1.5 billion budget deficit. Opponents of the plan say the budget gap was caused by financial mismanagement; they also point out that CSU presidents received salary increases last year—some amounting to 29 percent. But trustees said they reluctantly voted for the tuition hikes because there were no viable alternatives.