Utah Board of Regents has approved a 5 percent tuition hike starting next year. However, the increase is set to be the smallest in a decade for most of the students.
This latest increase will add upto a 44 percent tuition hike since 2008 for the University of Utah.
Now the students at U. will have to shell out an extra $310; $252 at Utah State University, $246 at Utah Valley University and $165 at Salt Lake Community College.
"I don't really like that, but I guess there's nothing I can really do about it, right?" University of Utah student, Soni Kinikini said. "If it's going to benefit us as students then I guess that's what they've got to do. But if it's just another 300 bucks for them to throw around, then that's kind of a waste of time and a waste of money for us."
David Buhler, commissioner of higher education, said that as the universities were receiving only minimum financial support from the state, it was causing them to shift their financial burden onto their students. However, the state still manages to offer lower tuition rates compared to other universities.
Buhler said that it is necessary for the state universities to maintain affordable tuition rates in order to help the state achieve its goal of two-thirds of adults obtaining a degree by 2020.
During the recent legislative session, lawmakers have approved a 6 percent increase in higher education funding.
University of Utah student, Meagan Hydok, said that the current raise further pressurises students with the burden of debts, especially in the current economic scenario.
For the past three years, Hydok has paid extra tuition every year. However, she did not notice any difference in the quality of the education.
Her business class still continues to be taught by a graduate, instead of a professor.
Gregory Stauffer, associate commissioner of higher education, said that majority of revenue from the tuition hikes is always directed toward employee payments and benefits.
