Despite the 2004-05 student fee increases approved by the California State University’s Board of Trustees on Wednesday, May 19, the cost of attending California State University, Fresno and other CSU campuses remains much lower than comparable institutions throughout the country.

A look at comparison institutions (chart attached) shows that undergraduate student fees will average $2,860 in the next academic year at the 23 campuses in the CSU system. The fee total includes the newly adopted State University Fee and campus-based fees. (At Fresno State, the figure will be slightly less because campus-based fees are lower than the CSU average.)

The average fee this year for 15 comparable universities is $5,272.

“All responsible higher education administrators are concerned about increased fees for students,” said Bernard Vinovrski, associate vice president for Enrollment Services. “The fact remains that the California State University system is still a bargain compared with public institutions in other states, as well as, the private sector. And while California is one of the most expensive states in which to live, a CSU education remains one of most affordable in the country.

“Higher education should be viewed as an investment,” Vinovrski said. “The increase in the State University Grant program and other forms of financial aid should ensure that this fee increase will not prohibit needy students from attending the CSU.”

CSU Trustees on Wednesday approved a 14 percent fee increase for undergraduate students, 20 percent increase for qualified credential program participants and 25 percent increase for other post-baccalaureate and graduate students for 2004-05.

Specifically, the state fees for the full 2004-05 year are as follows:

• Undergraduates: $2,334 for full-time students, $1,356 for part-time students.

• Credential program participants: $2,706 full-time, $1,572 part-time students.

• Graduate: $2,820 full-time students, $1,638 part-time students.

• Non-California residents and international students: $12,504.

The campus-based fees at Fresno State total an additional $370 a year.

The proposed fee increases mean that the CSU will not have to reduce enrollment any further or layoff many more faculty and staff in the midst of a budget crisis that has taken away more than one-half billion dollars from the university’s budget in the last three years. To mitigate these reductions, the governor proposed that the CSU implement student fee increases that would raise $101.5 million in new revenue.

The fee increases were part of a Higher Education Compact reached earlier this month between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the CSU and UC systems. The agreement provides the CSU with increased funding beginning in 2005-06 and continuing through 2010-11. The agreement also means that the CSU will be able to plan for an annual 2.5 percent student enrollment increase beginning in 2005-06.

“The compact allows the CSU to see some light at the end of the tunnel after several extremely tough years,” said Reed. “The funding provided by the compact is not a ceiling but a floor that we can work from. It provides stability, and a way to plan for the future.”