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CSU raises student fees 10 percent; UC plans 7.4 percent hike
By Bill Lindelof - blindelof@sacbee.com
Last Updated 5:48 am PDT Thursday, May 15, 2008
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3
The cost of a university degree for the more than 500,000 undergraduate students at the state's public universities went up Wednesday.
Fees will increase 10 percent this fall for students in the California State University system, rising to nearly $3,800 a year for undergraduate students.
On University of California campuses, fees will climb 7.4 percent, bringing resident undergraduate fees to more than $8,000 a year, not including housing and books.
CSU trustees approved that system's fee hike Wednesday. The fee increase at UC was approved by a UC regents committee Wednesday, and the issue goes before the full board today.
The 23-campus CSU system was facing $386 million in cuts because of the state budget shortfall. In his proposed budget revisions released Wednesday, Gov. Arnold Schwar-zenegger restored $97.6 million of that amount.
The 10-campus UC system also is facing cuts.
"It is too soon to tell what the effect will be of the state's budget crisis, long-term or near-term," said Kelly Ratliff, UC Davis associate vice chancellor for budget.
At UC Davis, officials have plans to cut budgets by 7 percent.
CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed said CSU opted to address the fee increase now – even before the state budget is finalized – to provide students reasonable time to plan.
Student fees in California remain among the lowest in the country compared with similar universities.
"I am sure that a CSU fee increase will be a financial burden to some," said Bonnie MacArthur, a health care administration major at CSU Sacramento. "However, the benefit that students receive of their CSU education far outweighs the cost of the proposed increase."
She said in an e-mail that the state has generously contributed to higher education institutions – and now it's time for students to chip in more toward what is still a steal of an education.
Kim Geron, vice president of the California Faculty Association, said the fee increase could not come at a worse time.
"The costs of housing, health care, food and gasoline are rising unchecked," Geron said.
CSU will set aside about one-third of the revenue garnered from the fee increase – $36 million – to bolster financial aid for students. UC also pledged to put more money into financial aid.
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