A 2.4% tuition increase for the 2019-2020 academic year was approved by Washington State University’s Board of Regents, the governing body of the university.
The WSU website states the increased cost-of-living and insurance costs for faculty, graduate students and staff are athe primary reason for the inflation. Tuition costs rose from $10,278 in 2018-2019 to $10,512 in 2019-2020, accounting for a $234 increase.
Assistant Director of Student Financial Services April Tovar, provided the history of undergraduate tuition for full-time Washington State residents. In fall 2010, tuition was $8,592 and peaked from fall 2012 to spring 2015 at $11,386. The next two years it decreased, only to begin increasing again in fall 2017 to now.
Tovar said that even with this increase, tuition remains significantly less than the 2012-2015 tuition rates.
For students with financial aid, rewards will be adjusted to compensate for the raised tuition cost. Financial Aid Services intends to finish updating student financial aid standings by mid-July at the latest.
“I think financial aid, in general, can be confusing,” said Tovar. “I would recommend students attend an A-Z of Paying for College Workshop … It will really help connect some of the dots.”
I would recommend students attend an A-Z of Paying for College Workshop … It will really help connect some of the dots.”
-April Tovar
Tovar said the best thing financially concerned students can do is be proactive with filling out financial aid forms. Every October, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA] and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid [WASFA] applications open and the WSU General Scholarship application is due on Jan. 31.
Tovar also encouraged students to attend the annual Scholarship 101 event at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in VDEN110. Students can learn tips on how to write effective scholarship essays from previous scholarship-winners at this event.
If students have questions or concerns regarding their financial aid status, stop by the Cougar Center located in the Student Services Building, call at 360-546-5559 or email them at van.finaid@wsu.edu
Krysten Stewart is a junior at WSU Vancouver pursuing an English degree.