Cal State trustees OK 10% hike on student fees

As expected, trustees of the California State University today approved a plan to raise student fees by 10% for the 23-campus system. The increase will affect undergraduates this coming fall and raise fees by $276.

The increase will bring statewide undergraduate costs to $3,048 per year, plus at least $749 more for average campus-based charges. Books, housing and food would bring the total to about $16,000.

Regents of the University of California are also meeting today and are expected to approve fee hikes of 7.4% for undergraduates.

UC undergraduates are facing a $490 rise in system fees to $7,126 per year. With campus charges added, the total is expected to average more than $8,000. With room, board and books, an undergraduate would pay about $22,000.

The fee increases for California’s two massive public university systems match recommendations made by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in January.

Lt Gov. John Garamendi, a trustee by virtue of his office, argued against the fee hike, saying the trustees were “giving the Legislature an easy way out.” He added, “This is a $104-million tax increase, and it is directly on students. This is the dumbest tax policy you can possibly be putting in place in California.”

Roberta Achtenberg, chairwoman of the trustees, called the fee increases “extremely painful” but necessary. She said the trustees had “to advocate for what is right and deal with the lot we have been dealt.”

The trustees met in Long Beach today.

 seema.mehta@latimes.com