For a second year in a row, the Arizona Board of Regents has voted not to increase tuition for in-state undergraduate students for the next school year as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

“Despite the many uncertainties created by the pandemic we are grateful that the presidents have taken this bold step to provide in particular our resident students financial relief and as much certainty as possible for the upcoming academic year," said Karrin Taylor Robson, ABOR Secretary and finance, capital and resources committee chair. 

The board also approved some increases for tuition for some out-of-state and graduate students at Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona. Arizona State University however is not raising tuition for any of its student. While that's great news for students, ASU President Michael Crow said it’s also a huge financial responsibility and undertaking for his institution. 

“This no tuition increase comes at a time when operating during the pandemic has greatly exceeded our resources," he said. 

That’s because Arizona public universities are heavily reliant on tuition for revenue since they have little support from the state. Rumors that the university is being financed by the federal government are not true, Crow said. 

“We’re being assisted by the federal government on a one-time only basis which is giving us some relief but it’s not providing for us to move forward," he said in reference to the millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funding that ASU has received during the pandemic.  

Crow expects ASU will have to raise tuition next year, but has renewed his commitment to keeping any increase proposal under 3%.