The University of Colorado Board of Regents recently approved an increase of 2.9% for the 2015-2016 school year. Parents who are footing the bill of their students breathed a sigh of relief while the general reaction among the general public was, “It’s about time?”
The rate of in-state tuition increases at CU-Boulder since 2004 are listed below (source: Boulder Daily Camera):
2015-16: 2.9%
2014-15: 3.3%
2013-14: 8.7%
2012-13: 5.0%
2011-12: 9.3%
2010-11: 8.9%
2009-10: 8.8%
2008-09: 9.3%
2007-08: 19.0%
2006-07: 2.4%
2005-06: 27.8%
2004-05: 9.0%
These increases are mild compared to out-of-state increases, but in most cases are significantly higher than the rate of inflation.
Funding for higher education comes from a variety of sources. Those sources include tuition, state funding, donations, student fees, federal grants – just to mention a few. CU has reported that:
• Donations are up.
• Over the long-term, state funding is also up. In 2004-2005 CU Boulder received $56.5 million in funding from the state of Colorado. In 2015-2016 the University is expected to receive $66.6 million from state funding. During this period funding was volatile. As a result, recent short-term funding is trending downwards.
• Enrollment has increased.
• In some schools within the CU-Boulder, federal funding is up; however, overall U.S. federal funding for all universities has dropped to 2002 levels, not adjusted for inflation.
Students have been left holding the bill and the problem has been exacerbated by CU Boulder leaders spending as if there is no tomorrow.
Higher education is critical to the future of Colorado. It is imperative for the leadership of CU-Boulder to focus its efforts on making the state’s flagship university more relevant, fiscally responsible, and affordable to in-state students.
