CAL STATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION OPPOSES PROPOSED 6% TUITION INCREASE
July 11, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS STATEMENT
July 11, 2023
Contact: Miya Haley
Media Relations Manager
Email: mshaley@calstate.edu
CAL STATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION OPPOSES THE PROPOSED 6% TUITION INCREASE
Long Beach, CA – The California State Student Association (CSSA) acknowledges the weight of fiscal responsibility and the necessity of providing access to education for all students. As the representative voice of the students, we express deep concern over the proposed 6% tuition increase by California State University (CSU), the nation’s largest and most diverse university system.
Despite understanding the university’s need to address revenue challenges, we believe the proposal does not serve the best interest of students, particularly considering the current financial strain and declining enrollment. The suggested increase is considerably higher than the average Higher Education Price Index of the past three years (3.25%), and it threatens to burden students, especially those struggling with the pandemic aftermath and escalating living costs. The proposal lacks measurable outcomes, a clear termination date, and fails to articulate plans for generating other revenue sources.
The CSSA is also troubled by the proposal’s disregard for students’ total cost of attendance beyond tuition and fees and its neglect of financial aid and basic needs. Approximately 60% of CSU students depend heavily on financial aid, making an all-encompassing Cal Grant Reform critical. We urge the institution and students to lobby for the inclusion of this reform in the upcoming state budget. The proposal’s indifference to providing resources for essential needs like food, housing, and healthcare contradicts its mission to serve students.
Concerns also extend to the potential future shortfall of the Pell Grant, which supports nearly half of the system’s undergraduates. By 2028, the proposed tuition increase is projected to exceed the Pell Grant’s financial support, exacerbating the financial burden on our most vulnerable students.
The CSSA firmly opposes the indefinite tuition increase proposal set for discussion at the forthcoming Committee on Finance meeting. We strongly urge the CSU to reconsider this proposal and account for our highlighted concerns.
We remain committed to maintaining a dialogue with the Chancellor’s Office and the Board to address these issues. Together, we believe we can navigate these challenges, uphold our shared values, and secure a prosperous future for all CSU students.
