The presidents of Idaho’s four-year universities pledged earlier this month to forgo tuition increases for the 2021-22 academic year if lawmakers approve Gov. Brad Little’s higher education budget.
The decision came in a press release from the Idaho State Board of Education, signed on by University of Idaho President Scott Green, Idaho State University President Kevin Satterlee and Boise State University President Marlene Tromp.
Little’s proposed higher education budget would restore nearly $15.4 million that was cut as part of a 5% holdback. For UI, this would account for an additional $4.6 million that was previously missed.
“While the University of Idaho is ranked as the best value of any public university in the west, we recognize that the cost of education is still a barrier to entry for many of our potential students,” Green stated in the release.
The presidents made a joint decision with the board in 2019 to implement tuition freezes for the 2020-21 academic year, addressing the affordability of higher education for students. The decision was made prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board voted in July to approve Little’s proposed 5% holdback for public schools in response to the pandemic. His newly proposed budget for the upcoming year takes the holdback into account, restoring money to the universities.
With these additional funds in hand, the institutions plan to continue their tuition freezes.
“We took a dramatic hit in 2020, first with holdbacks, then a one-time 5% holdback in response to the pandemic,” UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker said. “The governor has recommended this 5% be reinstated for 2021-22. If this indeed is what the Legislature agrees to, we will be able to hold tuition flat across the state.”
This year’s tuition freeze was Idaho’s first in 43 years. According to reporting from the Idaho Statesman, state appropriations for higher education was almost 17% of the state’s budget in 1980. Today, it amounts to less than 8% of the state budget.
Furthermore, UI has increased its tuition by 53% in the last 12 years, the university with the highest increase in Idaho. This upward trend in fees has been putting the cost of higher education more and more on students.
By committing to a tuition freeze, the university would not be able to profit from a raise in tuition. While the university may not lose money from a tuition freeze, UI would give up roughly $1 million per every percent increase in tuition. In the previous freeze, the school gave up a potential $2 to $3 million.
“We recognize tuition remains a barrier for many of our qualified Idaho students,” Walker said. “We are working hard to reduce those barriers by raising money for more scholarships and keeping the cost of attendance down.”
If the proposed budget does not go through, UI might not continue the tuition freeze, instead focusing on other avenues of financial aid for students.
“We continue to focus on raising money for scholarships,” Walker said. “Our donors are incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about helping Vandals.”
Little’s proposed budget will be sent to the Idaho Legislature where the final decision will be made.
Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @haadiyatariq