UC Board of Regents approves tuition hike for new students

"UC officials say it's necessary to address funding gaps caused by state budget cuts, federal reductions and inflation, but student groups have been vocal in their opposition. "Though it wouldn't really affect us, who are already in the UC, because our tuition is already set, we really want it to be affordable for future generations because we were once incoming UC students ourselves," said Nathan Boylan Boisvert from UC Riverside."

""I honestly think more about the future students. My sister currently is a senior in high school, and she's applying. Two weeks ago, she had to have the conversation with our parents about how she maybe won't be applying to UCs anymore because we potentially wouldn't be able to afford it," said UC San Diego student Jowaill Mobaraka."

""It's going to have really negative effects on just what universities in the UC will look like in the upcoming years," said UC Irvine student Coco Young Perez. "We're definitely going to see a drop in diversity and a drop in low-income and first-generation students who already can't afford the price of UCs today. So to up that cost is going to really change the demographic of the UC system.""

The University of California Board of Regents approved a plan to raise tuition up to 5% annually for new students, replacing a previous proposal that would have allowed up to 7%. UC officials cited state budget cuts, federal reductions and inflation as reasons to address funding shortfalls. Students from all nine UC campuses protested at UCLA, arguing the increases will reduce affordability and limit access for low-income and first-generation students. Several students described family members reconsidering UC applications due to cost. Protesters warned the hikes will change campus demographics and decrease diversity across the UC system.

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