ChancellorMay 25, 2023

Tuition, Budget Approved by UAS Board of Trustees

Today the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees approved our proposed budget for the 2023-2024 academic year. I am grateful for the care and consideration the board takes in assessing the budgets of the 14 colleges and universities that comprise the UA System, and their efforts to ensure our state is well positioned for success in higher education. 

As I have outlined in my previous emails, the FY24 budget contains modest increases to student tuition and fees, as well as conservative approaches to future spending. The University Budget Committee, Staff and Faculty Senates and the Student Government Association have diligently worked to assess the implications of these budgetary moves, and I appreciate their efforts to balance the university’s commitment to affordability with the fiscal responsibility necessary to maintain our high standards of education. 

Looking ahead, we are well-positioned for growth. We have seen growth in first-year student deposits for Fall 2023, and record application numbers for on-campus housing, clear indicators of a bright future for our institution despite the sunsetting of the Sebastian County Sales Tax in 2022. 

Though the complete Fall 2023 Tuition and Fee Schedule and Cost Calculator are available on the UAFS website, key changes approved for the 2023-2024 academic year include:

1. Tuition for New In-state Undergraduate Students: A 7.63% tuition increase has been approved, meaning new students and students who are no longer enrolled in the UAFS promise program will be charged $188 per semester credit hour beginning in Fall 2023.
2. UAFS Promise Program: Current students in the UAFS Promise Program who entered in 2019, 2020, and 2021 will continue to receive the fixed tuition rates of $171 per credit hour, and those who entered in 2022 will continue to receive the fixed tuition rate of $175 per credit hour, as long as they remain in compliance with the academic progress standards outlined in their Promise agreement.
3. Fees: Slight changes to both mandatory and non-mandatory fees will take effect in Fall 2023. You’ll find details in our Academic Catalog and mandatory fee explanations on uafs.edu. 
4. Housing and Meal Plans: Rates for 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units will remain steady for Fall 2023. 4-bedroom units will have a minor rate increase this year to align with the cost schedules of the other units, and meal plans will experience a modest increase as a response to inflationary pressures. Details are available on the housing section of uafs.edu. 

Each of these tuition, fee, and amenity increases were carefully evaluated to coincide with the federal government’s 2023 increase to Pell Grant awards, ensuring that our Pell-eligible students should not see large increases to their out-of-pocket costs to attend UAFS, despite these increases to tuition and fee rates.

Additionally, after assessing the approved budgets for the other four-year institutions in Arkansas, I am pleased to report that UAFS remains the most affordable campus in the University of Arkansas System to grant four-year degrees.

I appreciate your continued dedication to this wonderful university, and as always, I am honored to be your chancellor.

 

Terisa Riley

 

 

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