The University of Hawaiʻi is considering not increasing tuition for its students starting in the 2019–2020 academic year.
The plan, which could be approved at the UH Board of Regents meeting on January 31, would first decrease tuition for current students and then freeze the lowered rates for the next three years.
Thousands of students will be affected across the university’s 10 campuses if the proposal passes, specifically graduate and non-resident students whose tuition rates have surged over the last few years.
“This unprecedented request would provide most UH students and their families with a flat tuition rate for five consecutive years including 2018–19,” President David Lassner said.
“If approved, it will be a strong demonstration of our university commitment to affordability and will work in concert with the remarkable Early College and Hawaiʻi Promise programs supported by the State to help bring the benefits of public higher education to more of Hawaiʻi‘s citizenry.”
University administrators expect that the new policy change will make receiving an education from the institution more affordable, will increase retention and recruitment of Hawaii’s students, and will improve the university’s competitiveness and attractiveness for non-resident students.
Various colleges and universities across the nation are undertaking similar initiatives as higher education tuition costs continue to rise. Michigan State University decided last year to freeze tuition for new undergraduate students starting in June. Corban University also froze its tuition for its students during the 2019-2020 academic year.
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