SPOKANE, Wash. — The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges(SBCTC) has approved a tuition increase starting next school year.
“It largely reflects inflationary cost increases,” Spokane Community College’s Chief Financial Officer Dr. Linda McDermott said.
The 3.3% tuition increase was discussed Thursday night. For a Washington community college student, this increase would result in around $54 more per quarter, just over $160 per year.
“It largely reflects our inflationary cost increases,” Dr. McDermott said.
Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) says the tuition increase is expected to generate $800,000 to its budget. CCS says this will be put back into institutions and is more needed as the state deals with budget shortfalls.
“It is to help support the programs and services that we can offer to students,” said Laura McDowell, Communications Director for SBCTC. “Costs are going up at our colleges and for us to be able to continue to offer our programs and services to let students through on time, this tuition increase helps support that.”
While board officials say this is a moderate increase, they acknowledge that it could impact some students and recommend taking advantage of state financial aid options.
“The FAFSA is our best bet and earliest advice for students,” Dr. McDermott said. “Most all of our students are eligible for some form of financial aid.”
Dr. McDermott said the state grant funds typically go up during a tuition increase like this one.
“If they fill out the FAFSA, there’s no harm done in doing that,” McDowell said. “There’s no cost associated. You don’t know if you’re going to get money unless you try.”
To learn more and apply for the FAFSA, click here.
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