UHMC Tuition Will Be $3,900 in 2017

By Wendy Osher

UHMC. Photo by Wendy Osher.

The University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents (BOR) approved a five-year tuition schedule that will result in higher tuition across the 10-campus system.

The new schedule takes effect in the fall of 2012 and runs through the spring of 2017.

The University of Hawaii Maui College falls under the Community College schedule, and will see an increase of nearly $1,000 over five years—going from the current $2,910 annual tuition, to $3,900 in 2017.

Meantime, the flagship UH Manoa Campus will go from the current $8,400 annual tuition, to more than $11,000 over five years.

(The complete tuition schedule is available at the following LINK).

The increases were described as “modest” in a press release issued by the university on Wednesday.

“This has been one of the toughest issues we have taken on in our service as Regents,” said UH Board of Regents Chair Eric Martinson.

“We are well aware of the economic struggle that many Hawai‘i families are experiencing. We made this decision with the best interests of Hawai‘i’s citizens and our only public higher education institution in mind, and with the certainty that accompanying increased financial aid and outreach counseling will continue to make a college degree accessible to all who desire it,” said Martinson.

Assuming moderate enrollment growth, the tuition increases are expected to generate an estimated $15 million of additional revenues in the first year, and $25 million in the final year of the tuition schedule.

According to university officials, UH sustained more than $86 million in cuts to its core operating budget over the last two years.  At the same time, enrollment increased to a record high of 60,000 students–that’s up 14,000 from a decade ago.

“The university has made every effort to preserve services that directly impact students and has made significant adjustments in its operations to address these budget cuts, including salary reductions, hiring freezes, travel restrictions, energy conservation and other measures,” said UH President M.R.C. Greenwood.

The decision to approve the increases was made after the completion of 11 public meetings, a Student Caucus briefing and an administrative briefing in September and October.