Arizona universities need the Legislature's help to make college more affordable
During this season of state of the states, I am proud to report on the state of our public universities. And the answer is – never better.
Between fall 2019 and 2021, total enrollment at ASU, NAU and UArizona increased more than 8.5% making us one of only eight states with growing enrollment. Out-of-state enrollment has bounced back – and these students pay a premium that enables Arizona universities to use that revenue for financial aid to support our Arizona students.
Research activity is growing and now exceeds $1.5 billion. This research is at the forefront of space exploration, health care solutions, renewable energy, new tools for our national defense and more.
UArizona has one of the top optical science program in the country; ASU has been named the nation’s most innovative university for seven consecutive years, and NAU is among the leaders in forest health.
We are the only state in the nation where each university enjoys a top-tier FIRE rating for free speech.
We graduate needed teachers, engineers
Our institutions are engaged in service to our state. ASU now graduates more needed engineers than Georgia Tech. The Arizona Teachers Academy graduates more than 2,000 new teachers each year who pledge to work in Arizona classrooms. Our universities are growing their nursing programs to help meet this vital need in health care.
The new “Regents Grants” program is helping fund targeted university research into some of the state’s most pressing challenges. That includes identifying unique forms of cancer that are afflicting firefighters, finding ways to capture storm runoff and replenish groundwater supplies, and much more.
What most families want to know is, can my child afford to attend?
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Our universities devote more than $1 billion in financial aid for worthy Arizona students. The average cost of an Arizona university degree, after financial aid, has been essentially flat for many years, and the Arizona Promise scholarship program covers tuition and fees for every qualifying low-income in-state student.
But there is a lot we still need to do
But we know that tuition is still too expensive for many Arizona families.
There is much more to do.
We must graduate and retain more physicians to address the critical shortage, especially in rural Arizona. We also need more allied health professionals.
In the Phoenix Biomedical Core, Arizona has the makings of a nationally premier bioscience strategy. But we aren’t there yet.
ASU, NAU and UArizona student retention rates have reached over 80%, but we need to push this higher. Too many students have half a degree, and the percentage of Arizonans who complete postsecondary education remains well below the national average.
Arizona should help with financial aid
We have one giant barrier to the full success we seek: the state of Arizona used to contribute two-thirds of the cost of a student’s education, and the student one-third. Today, those percentages are reversed.
The average annual cost to educate a university student is $18,855 per year. The state’s contribution is approximately $6,000. That means we lose more than $12,000 on every Arizona student and can’t afford to take as many as we should.
If Arizona would join the 32 other states that contribute toward student financial aid, universities could make a degree significantly more affordable, graduate the quality workforce our business community needs and make our state more competitive.
That would improve the state of our universities – and our state.
Fred DuVal is chair-elect of the Board of Regents, a former gubernatorial candidate and former senior White House staff member. He is a regular contributor to the Arizona Republic. On Twitter: @FredDuVal.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona universities need help to make college more affordable
