No changes to scheduled UH tuition next school year

From UH News, February 14, 2019 

The tuition schedule for the 2019–20 academic year at the University of Hawaiʻi’s 10 campuses will remain as previously approved and published with no changes. A proposal to reduce and freeze tuition was deferred in January by the UH Board of Regents, which requested more information.

An updated proposal is expected to go before the board later this spring. However, with financial aid preparations underway and multiple deadlines approaching, any changes proposed will be for the 2020–21 academic year.

“The board is looking forward to continuing its work on the next tuition schedule in the months to come,” said BOR Chair Lee Putnam. “Affordability for our students is a top priority as we balance that with the need to provide facilities, resources and services integral to supporting their education.”

“While the 2019–2020 tuition schedule remains as previously approved, we will continue our work to identify approaches to maximize affordability for our resident students, who need us most,” said UH President David Lassner. “We will also continue to work on our competitiveness in a dynamic higher education environment for out-of-state and international students who increase diversity across multiple dimensions on our campuses.”

Tuition rates at UHʻs four-year institutions have risen above comparable institutions, especially for non-residents. The rates at the UH community colleges have also increased in recent years but still remain among the lowest in the nation.

Under the current three-year tuition schedule approved in 2016, resident undergraduate tuition in 2019–20 will increase by two percent at UH Mānoa and for lower division courses at the seven community colleges, and by one percent at UH Hilo and UH West Oʻahu.

View the complete tuition schedule with full details. (PDF)

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UH Board of Regents defers action on proposed tuition schedule

From UH News, January 31, 2019

The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) deferred action today on the proposed tuition schedule. After a robust discussion involving all regents present, BOR Chair Lee Putnam requested that the administration take the feedback received into consideration and return to the BOR at a future meeting.

The administration presented information about tuition rates at other comparable institutions and its finding that tuition at UH’s four-year institutions have risen above many, especially for non-residents. The rates at the UH community colleges, while remaining among the lowest in the nation, have also increased in recent years. The administration had proposed decreases in the approved tuition rates for 2019–2020, to be followed by a three-year freeze in rates.

Comments and questions were expressed by regents were wide-ranging including economic uncertainties, declining college-age populations nationwide, aging facilities and other university needs, inflationary trends, and the amount of revenue the university might lose by adopting the proposed tuition schedule. In addition, there were comments and suggestions about specific elements of the proposal including the proposed decreases in resident tuition rates, decreases in non-resident tuition rates, and the length of the freeze proposed.

University leadership was asked to consider how to balance these concerns with the original objectives of ensuring affordability for local residents and increasing competitiveness for non-resident students.

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UH proposes tuition cuts and freezes for students at all campuses

From UH News January 27, 2019

The University of Hawaiʻi administration is proposing a decrease and subsequent freeze in tuition rates at UH’s 10 campuses to make public higher education in Hawaiʻi even more affordable. The proposed tuition schedule for the next four academic years goes before the UH Board of Regents at its January 31 meeting at UH West Oʻahu.

The proposal would decrease approved tuition rates for nearly all students for the 2019–2020 academic year and then freeze those lowered rates for the 3-year period from 2020–2023. Some of the larger decreases apply to graduate and non-resident tuition rates, which have risen substantially above peers and are now a hindrance to enrollment growth.

“This unprecedented request would provide most UH students and their families with a flat tuition rate for five consecutive years including 2018–19,” said UH President David Lassner. “If approved, it will be a strong demonstration of our university commitment to affordability and will work in concert with the remarkable Early College and Hawaiʻi Promise programs supported by the State to help bring the benefits of public higher education to more of Hawaiʻi‘s citizenry.”

Data shows that tuition at UH’s four-year institutions has risen above many of its peer institutions, especially for non-residents. The rates at the UH community colleges continue to be close to their peers but have also increased comparatively more in recent years.

The new tuition schedule is expected to have a positive impact on student recruitment and retention and the educational attainment of Hawaiʻi’s population. Decreases in non-resident tuition rates are intended to improve UH competitiveness and attractiveness for non-resident students, a group for which UH has experienced substantial enrollment declines that it seeks to reverse in order to enhance revenue, strengthen the diversity of student experiences on UH campuses, and positively impact the state’s economy.

Proposed tuition for academic years 2019–2020 to 2022–2023

UH Mānoa undergraduate

• Resident: $11,088—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 2 percent ($216)
• Non-resident: $32,669—Reducing the approved tuition increase for 2019–2020 by 2 percent ($667)

UH Mānoa graduate

• Resident: $15,600—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 2 percent ($312)
• Non-resident: $33,653—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 10 percent ($3,739)

UH Hilo and UH West Oʻahu undergraduate

• Resident: $7,272—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 1 percent ($72)
• Non-resident: $20,101—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 1 percent ($203)

UH Hilo graduate

• Resident: $11,616—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 1 percent ($120)
• Non-resident: $26,302—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 1 percent ($266)

UH community colleges lower division

• Resident: $3,084—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 2 percent ($60)
• Non-resident: $8,220—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 1 percent ($60)

UH community colleges upper division

• Resident: $7,272—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 1 percent ($72)
• Non-resident: $20,101—Reducing the approved tuition for 2019–2020 by 1 percent ($203)

Big Q: Should the University of Hawaii cut/freeze tuitions as proposed, to reverse enrollment drops?