Students at the University of Alaska might see some changes to their tuition bills next year. The university’s Board of Regents is considering altering how tuition is structured.
Luke Fulp is the chief financial officer for the university. He said during a board meeting this month in Juneau that the proposed changes would make students’ tuition bills more transparent.
“What the student sees today, what the customer sees, is they see lots of different rates, and then those rates direct the revenue throughout the university. Makes it really complex for them to understand what we’re thinking and what this aims to do is make it simpler for them,”
Fulp said the new structure moves many surcharges students currently see into its tuition rate. Certain classes would still have course fees.
The amount students pay depends on the type of program they’re in, as well as which campus they’re based out of.
For undergraduate students at the University of Alaska Southeast and the University of Alaska Anchorage, it would also get rid of the difference in cost for lower-level and upper-level courses. Instead, certain degree programs that are more expensive to run will have higher rates.
The University of Alaska Southeast only has one higher-cost program, which is its maritime program in Ketchikan. The rest of the undergraduate courses are charged at the same, lower rate.
For example, an undergraduate student in the University of Alaska Southeast’s maritime program would pay $340 per credit hour, but the rate for a marine biology or education major is $71 lower.
The proposed structure would eliminate out-of-state tuition for its graduate students, leaving one rate for all of those students. The board already approved eliminating out-of-state tuition for the 2027-28 school year.
While there are currently two different tuition rates, all graduate students are currently paying the lower, resident tuition, according to UAS Communications Specialist Sal Hertz.
Lori Klein is the campus’ Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. She said in an interview with KTOO that the changes at UAS might mean that students pursuing certificates and associate degrees pay more in tuition next year, and that undergraduate students might see a lower bill. Overall, the university expects the changes will bring in a less than 2% revenue increase.
Klein said the campus is trying to make sure any tuition increase is reasonable for students and the university.
“Then we get a chance to sort of adjust our financial aid award structure to help students who might be impacted the most by any kind of tuition increase,” she said.
The Board of Regents is expected to consider the proposal at its November meeting. If approved, the new rates and structure would go into effect next school year.
