Tuition at the state’s colleges and universities could rise as much as 12.1 percent under a plan approved by legislators and expected to be signed by Gov. Bill Owens.
The University of Colorado also received approval to hike student fees by more than 30 percent.
Many of the increases are more than Owens initially wanted, but the plan prevents schools from implementing a previous proposal that would have raised tuition by as much as 45 percent, said Owens spokesman Dan Hopkins.
“The institutions made a sound case for the increases,” he said. The compromise “precluded much more draconian increases that were once on the table.”
Instead of approving specific tuition increases, the legislature gave schools the authority to increase tuition up to a certain amount, allowing each school to decide where the increase will come from.
The authority to increase tuition ranges from 7.4 percent for Fort Lewis College to 12.1 percent for Adams State College.
But that authority might not translate into double-digit increases at all schools.
Adams State will increase full-time tuition by 8.9 percent, from $909 to $990 per semester, but part-time students will see a decrease.
“We wanted to keep tuition under $2,000” a year, said Julie Waechter, spokeswoman for Adams State. “If we raise it above that, we’re not going to serve the people who need to be served.”
Most other schools have yet to decide whether to raise tuition or place the burden more on out-of-state students or certain programs.
“It’s too early to say exactly what is going to be put together,” said Brad Bohlander, spokesman for Colorado State University.
Most schools will decide in June how much to raise tuition.
Some schools initially wanted to charge for credit hours that they now provide for free. The schools could still do that, but the total tuition increase would have to be no more than the percentage approved by the legislature.
The schools and lawmakers were able to come to agreement this year because each school had to justify exactly why it needed the increases, said Jason Hopfer, spokesman for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.
“Now there’s transparency involved in the process,” he said, adding that in previous years each school would just come in with a figure.
While the students or their families will have to pay for any increases, some student leaders say they would have liked to see a larger increase because it would have lowered class sizes and improved education.
“It will be difficult for some students, but as a whole (a bigger increase would) bring quality and value to the education,” said CSU student president Katie Clausen, adding that she supported a 21 percent increase.
The legislature also approved authority for student fee increases, which range from zero at some schools to 30.5 percent at CU.
CU spokesman Michael Hesse said students approved the increase to improve recreation centers on two campuses.
Staff writer Arthur Kane can be reached at 303-820-1626 or akane@denverpost.com.
