Students in the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine could be facing tuition increases for the 2020-21 academic year, as outlined by UA President Dr. Robert C. Robbins in his annual tuition and fee proposal. The proposal also proposed tuition for the newly established College of Veterinary Medicine. 

For the College of Medicine, resident tuition has a 3% proposed increase ($33,580) for all first-year students at both the Phoenix and Tucson campuses. Second- through fourth-year students would not have a tuition increase under this proposal. 

The College of Veterinary Medicine resident tuition is proposed to be $45,000 for its inaugural year. Tuition for non-resident students is proposed at $69,999. 

The Recreation Center Program fee is the only mandatory fee that will increase for the 2020-21 academic year, but students are able to opt out of the fee on a semester basis. The Wildcat Events Board has a proposed fee increase from $3 to $5. A number of specific classes have also proposed fee increases. 

The Arizona Board of Regents announced in a press release that undergraduate resident tuition rates will not increase at any of the three public universities in the state. 

“Our goals for the current semester have changed dramatically, as have our students’ circumstances,” Robbins said in his proposal. “Our new priorities include making sure we make decisions in the best interest of the health and wellbeing of our students, employees and the greater community, as well as providing support for our students to successfully finish the semester and to stay on track toward the pursuit of their degrees.”

The UA has not yet announced whether the upcoming semester will be conducted online due to COVID-19, and the fee proposal did not include information regarding if tuition rates would change if that were the case.

“I truly hope we will be able to welcome our students back to campus and classes this fall, but regardless of where our students are we will continue to provide the very best academic experience possible,” Robbins said.   

ABOR’s next tuition meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 27 at 3 p.m. The virtual meeting is public and students and individuals will be able to comment using instructions on ABOR’s site. Comments on the tuition proposal will also be accepted at tuition@azregents.edu.   

On Thursday, May 7, the board is expected to vote on these proposed tuition changes, and the meeting will be livestreamed. 

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