Zero Tuition Increase for Arizona Resident Undergraduates for Second Consecutive Year

For the second consecutive year, there will be no increase in undergraduate resident tuition at Arizona’s public universities for the 2021-22 academic year. At Arizona State University, there will be no tuition increase for current and incoming students, both undergraduate and graduate, resident and non-resident.

The Arizona Board of Regents today approved the proposed 2021-2022 base tuition, mandatory fees, all academic fees, and residence housing and meal plans for Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona. The board also approved tuition for the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

“The past year has been incredibly challenging for our public universities and their students and families,” said ABOR Chair Larry E. Penley. “We recognize the financial hardship faced by many students due to the pandemic and its impacts on the economy, so we appreciate the efforts of university presidents who have avoided any tuition increase for Arizona resident undergraduates for two consecutive years. As Arizona begins to emerge from this pandemic, ASU, NAU and UArizona will play a vital role in aiding our economic recovery and preparing these students for the workforce they’ll soon join.”

For the upcoming academic year, highlights of approved tuition and fees include:

Arizona State University

• No tuition increase for any current or incoming student – undergraduate, graduate, residents and non-residents.
• Continues pledge for not more than a 3 percent tuition increase for resident undergraduate students.
• Recategorizes one college fee.
• Increases 10 graduate program fees, establishes 10 new graduate program fees, increases one mandatory fee and establishes one new graduate fee.

Northern Arizona University

• No undergraduate tuition increase.
• Continues the Pledge guarantee program that provides most undergraduate students with the same tuition and mandatory fees rate for four years.
• Increases graduate tuition 5 percent for residents and non-residents.
• No mandatory fee increases, one undergraduate program fee increase.

University of Arizona

• No undergraduate resident tuition increase.
• Continues the Tuition Guarantee Program ensuring the majority of continuing undergraduate students will have no tuition or mandatory fee increases.
• Increases non-resident undergraduate tuition 1.4 percent, resident graduate tuition 1.4 percent and non-resident graduate tuition 0.7 percent.
• College of Medicine – Tucson, 3 percent tuition increase first-year resident students, 1 percent increase first-year non-resident students; College of Medicine – Phoenix, 3 percent increase residents, 1 percent non-residents. College of Veterinary Medicine, 2 percent increase first-year students, zero increase second-year students.
• Increases one and establishes five new undergraduate program fees, establishes seven new class fees (two undergraduate/graduate, four undergraduate and one graduate), increases two class fees (one undergraduate, one undergraduate/graduate), establishes one new mandatory undergraduate/graduate fee and increases two existing undergraduate academic fees.

Robust financial aid is provided by the universities for students, providing access and affordable education for qualified Arizona students. In fiscal year 2020 alone, Arizona’s public universities provided $981.2 million for students. Institutional aid has increased at the universities 58 percent or $358.9 million since 2016.

In addition to financial assistance, ASU and NAU eliminated or reduced hundreds of fees as part of their sunset review of fees schedule. ASU reviewed 245 fees during 2020 and eliminated 242 of those fees with the rest unchanged. At NAU, 482 fees were reviewed, 219 were eliminated and 126 decreased with the remainder unchanged. Board policy requires the universities to review all existing academic fees at least once every 10 years. UArizona’s scheduled sunset review is underway with initial results to be submitted next year.

Tuition and fees were approved by the board for students at Arizona’s public universities after a virtual public hearing where students and individuals shared thoughts on tuition proposals and after an in-depth tuition workshop where presidents presented their proposals. Students and individuals were also able to send emailed comments on the proposals.

“Despite the pandemic, the Board of Regents continues to prioritize student access to Arizona’s public universities,” said ABOR Executive Director John Arnold. “Stable and low tuition coupled with significant opportunities for financial aid opens pathways for all Arizona students. Post high school educational attainment is among the best steps a student can take to improve their own lives and the board’s tuition and financial aid policies can help make that a reality.”

Numerous factors are considered by the board in setting tuition including student input; the amount of state support provided to the university system; revenues generated from tuition and fees; cost of attendance and median family income; the availability of student financial aid; the tuition of peer universities across the country; and resources required to meet the universities’ performance goals.