In September 2023, when the California State University Board of Trustees voted to raise tuition costs by 6% per year over the next five years, the reaction was immediate. Students protested outside board meetings as some called it unfair, others called it inevitable. CSU chancellors and officials described it as a great plan to close a projected $1.5 billion budget gap and prevent deeper financial problems down the road, according to CalMatters, a California-based news site.
For in-state undergraduate students, the first increase raised total tuition by almost $400 a semester. As per the CSU Tuition plan, officials emphasized that financial aid would also rise and campuses would use the new revenue to improve graduation rates, hire more staff and provide services to help students succeed.
Many students were also still recovering from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Economic Forum, Enrollment dropped drastically in 2022 by a little under 10 percent when campuses were focused on returning to in-class activities.
By 2024, the first wave of tuition increases forced students to readjust their lives to pay for their education.
Some students picked up extra work hours. Others took out additional loans struggles. In an interview with The Bulletin, a CSUDH graduate student, who declined to provide his name, said he went from working weekends to working practically every day. “Six percent didn’t sound like much when I heard it at first,” he said. “But when you break it down and manage where you spend your time and money, that six percent feels like 15 percent or 20 percent.”
At the same time, California’s cost of living wasn’t easing up. Rent prices in many college towns stayed high. According to Zillow, the average rent in California in 2024 was $2,695, groceries, gas, and basic necessities were still expensive due to COVID-19, and students who had financial aid felt like it wouldn’t hold up much longer.
In an interview with The Bulletin, a CSUDH graduate student, who declined to provide his name, wonders what those extra tuition dollars actually support on campus. “If I’m expected to pay more money every year, I should be able to see changes and new resources I can use every year,” he said. Many student-focused systems and programs such as academic advising, mental health services, and even major required courses are still limited. It’s quite clear the disconnection between officials, students, and the price of paying more for less.
In the present time, the announcement of the six percent has been accepted by students as they realize that they must deal with this rise every semester if they want to achieve their dreams and aspirations, which says a lot about the mindset of future generations.
“When the news first arrived, I was disappointed and furious since it would mean that I need more money just to have a chance at my dreams. Now, I’ve been accepting of the decision as prices of things will always change,” said Angel Cambero, a CSUN student.
For students who enrolled after the news, tuition feels normal to them. However for those continuing or graduating, the rise has really affected them where graduating didn’t hold the same weight like it did before. Many students had to drop classes or take out more loans, which put them through hardship, possibly affecting their expected graduation and adding more expenses towards school.
Recent studies indicate the CSU system reached its second consecutive year of increased enrollment, marking its highest year-to-year enrollment rise in the past 10 years. The rise hit nearly two percent, or nearly 500,000 students. showcasing that the demand for a degree, specifically from a CSU, hasn’t changed as it remains a pathway for higher education in California.