University of Colorado in- state students could see tuition hikes of 11 percent to 42 percent next year under preliminary budget proposals presented to regents Wednesday.
CU officials cautioned that final tuition amounts will not be decided until early next year and that the proposals are just planning scenarios for regents. Additional proposals will be presented in coming months for possible cost-cutting that could offset possible hikes.
But any tuition increase will come on top of a 28 percent hike for in-state students this year, leaving state officials to caution that the school cannot continue to increase indefinitely the costs to students.
“The regents should be able to look at scenarios, and there is nothing official yet,” said Jason Hopfer, spokesman for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.
“We would have concerns on a tuition increase, on top of them doing double-digit increases” if a referendum allowing the state to keep more tax money passes in the November elections.
CU officials say it is too early to say whether cuts can offset increases or what individual students in various programs will pay next year.
“This is just a starting point,” said John Bliss, acting CU budget vice president.
There are two referendums, C and D, on the November ballot that would allow the state to keep excess revenues that currently have to be refunded under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights and would raise the base of future state budgets.
The scenarios laid out include 11 percent to 19 percent tuition increases if the referendums pass.
A 42 percent increase might be necessary if the referendums fail and the state cuts about $38 million from CU’s funding. And the school would have to cut financial aid, programs that improve quality, and most other discretionary spending if the referendums fail and the tuition increase is capped at 25 percent.
It is also unclear if the financial aid that reduced this year’s 28 percent tuition hike to 15 percent will continue for in-state students.
Student body president Jeremy Jimenez said students are torn between not wanting to pay high tuition but looking for a quality education.
“It’s bad to have class cuts … and to wait three weeks to see an adviser,” he said.
“But 11 percent is a huge increase. We just can’t have any more state cuts.”
Staff Writer Arthur Kane can be reached at 303-820-1626 or akane@denverpost.com
