WSU Regents hike tuition 16 percent

The Regents of Washington State University have approved a sixteen percent increase in in-state undergraduate tuition on the same day that Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law legislation giving Washington state’s four-year universities authority to set their own tuition.

Saying they felt they had no choice in current economic circumstances, the Regents on Monday approved the sixteen percent jump in in-state undergraduate tuition, effective for the coming fall semester. For in- state students, that means a tuition bill increase of just under $1300 for the year.

This tuition increase is expected to bring in about $69 million in revenue for the university in the new fiscal year, leaving the university still $40 million short of what it needs. That means more budget cuts are coming at Washington State University.

Copyright 2011 Northwest Public Radio