UA Board of Regents moves to cut tuition for out-of-state students, aiming to boost enrollment

University officials said the goal is to simplify students’ billing and attract more students to the University of Alaska. 

“It really moves steps forward in our goal to student recruitment and retention, and it creates a lot of certainty and clarity for students coming into the system and especially for out-of-state students,” said the new University of Alaska President Matt Cooper — in just his second day on the job — at a special online board meeting on Tuesday.

Currently, out-of-state tuition is double to quadruple the amount of resident tuition, depending on degree type. For example, an undergraduate credit costs $251 for resident students, whereas it costs $875 per credit for nonresident students in the University of Alaska Anchorage system. The change would create a standard tuition rate for all students, including international students, subject to applicable special tuition rates and surcharge rates.

Cooper noted that the university estimates 75% of UA graduates stay and work in Alaska, so it hopes attracting more students will provide long-term benefits for the state. 

Luke Fulp, chief financial officer for the university, said 85% of students already receive some kind of tuition waiver and the change will streamline the billing process and improve students’ experience. He told the board the projected change represents a roughly $1.4 million loss in tuition, or 1.2% of net tuition income, that they hope will be covered by future boosts in enrollment. 

The University of Alaska Southeast has already implemented the change through a pilot program called Alaska Unlocked beginning this year, offering in-state tuition to all undergraduate students. The initiative would expand that to graduate programs as well. 

Officials with the University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks told the board they welcome the initiative and estimate the change in tuition will draw more students. 

Fulp said the initiative also makes the University of Alaska more competitive.  

“The landscape for higher education is changing,” he said. “We have changes in college-going rates. We have market shifts, and systems and universities across the country are looking at being more competitive and offering more affordable tuition proposals to students.”