UC Regents recently passed a tuition hike of up to five percent over the next five years leaving transfer students with a larger financial burden.
Students turn to City College as an all-access institution at an affordable price with the intent to possibly transfer to a four-year UC or Cal State. However, UC’s shining appearance is only shadowed by the cost to some City College students.
Aaron Marcus is a 22-year-old student at City College planning on transferring to UCSB in the coming fall semester as biology major.
“I don’t like [the hike] that much in all honesty,” said Marcus. “School’s need money but I don’t think putting people who are trying to get their education in crippling debt is the way to do it.”
The tuition increase alone almost matches the total cost of full-time enrolled students tuition per semester at City College.
UC President Janet Napolitano stated that the funds would be covering the growing costs of retirement, employee contract settlements, hire faculty and increase the number of undergraduates by 5,000 over those years.
The hike puts next year’s tuition at $12,804 without adding the cost of books, room, and board.
Marcus is a Santa Barbara local who chose City College based on affordability and UCSB because he could avoid the cost of housing by living at home. He said that the cost of tuition is a huge concern in terms of affordability and that debt will most likely be his only option.
“Tenured instructors don’t need that money and administration doesn’t need it,” Marcus said.
The outrage students have has reached across the state as UC students began protesting at their campuses in response to the increase in tuition including UCSB students rallying at Storke tower alongside their associated student government.
Speaker of the Assembly Toni Atkins released a statement on Nov. 19 urging the board of regents to reject the proposed fee increase.
“The proposed fee increase of more than 25 percent is unacceptable––California students and their families have faced too many fee increases already,” said Atkins. “Instead, UC should work with the legislature and Governor to get UC the money it needs…”
Atkins’s plan includes rejecting all fee increases for California students and attempt to get $50 million from the state general fund. The money would also go to benefit the Cal
State system.
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson also released a statement on social media expressing her opinion on the matter.
“Our UC system is our state’s crown jewel, a cornerstone of the California Dream, and the best public education system in our country,” she stated. “We need to look at other alternatives besides balancing our budget on the backs of students and families.”
