How We're Funded

Tuition is an investment in you:

The tuition you pay for your college education is the best investment you can make in your future. Unlike commodities such as food, fuel and cars which are consumed and/or depreciate in value over time, a college education lasts a lifetime. Average annual earnings of individuals with a bachelor’s degree are more than 75 percent higher than the earnings of high school graduates. But financial gain is not the only benefit. A college experience will open your eyes and mind to the world, challenge you to think in new and innovative ways, and provide you with the knowledge and skills to make a difference.

How We’re Funded:

Your college experience is made possible by the investments of many people who care about your future. Tuition and fees cover only part of the costs associated with fulfilling the educational aspirations of nearly 64,000 ASU students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. It also covers only a fraction of the costs of facilities to support teaching and research, and the operating expenses associated with libraries, student services and athletic facilities. The citizens of Arizona, through their taxpayer dollars, currently invest almost $8,000 in your education. Private investors also contribute to provide you with the best educational experience money can buy.

How tuition is determined:

In 2003 the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) established the policy that resident undergraduate tuition, including mandatory fees, would be set at a level no higher than the top of the bottom third (i.e., just under the 33rd position) of resident tuition rates at senior public institutions in America and maintained at that level.

ABOR also established the policy that tuition should continue to be adjusted to that level to ensure ASU obtains the resources needed to provide a quality education. This rate of tuition would allow higher education to be affordable and reasonable for you and your family and at the same time provide the level of resource support necessary to ensure an excellent undergraduate experience.

How ASU tuition compares nationally:

Over the past eight years, ASU’s tuition has been set between the bottom and 25th percentile relative to the tuition in other states, and has not approached the goal set by ABOR. ASU students pay relatively low tuition compared with other public institutions, as illustrated in the following chart:

The low tuition rate is not made up for through higher levels of state or other funding, as it is at many comparable public research institutions. This puts ASU at a competitive disadvantage nationally.

Closer to home, ASU’s tuition level, along with University of Arizona, ranks at the bottom of universities in the Pac-10 Conference, showing a differential of $2,741 when compared with UCLA (the highest) and $941 with Oregon State (the lowest) in 2008.

As a member institution of the Pac-10, one of the three elite academic/athletic conferences in the country -- along with the Big Ten and Ivy League -- it is critical that ASU be as competitive in the classroom as it is on the field.

Maintaining tuition affordability is critical:

Over the past decade, while tuition has risen, the relative cost to most students in relation to family income has not risen as much -- tuition paid after scholarships and grants, but excluding student loans, has remained relatively constant. Most importantly, the ability to provide substantially higher funding for financial aid has enabled Arizona State University to provide support for qualified students at all income levels, thereby increasing access to a quality four-year university education.

ASU getting respect on the national stage:

The tuition investment you have made in ASU’s programs and research has resulted in substantial recognition for the institution, not only in academic circles, but also with the general public. Recently Nature, one of the world’s most respected research periodicals, in its April 26, 2007 edition, highlighted ASU’s successes in its interdisciplinary educational programs, research and partnerships. The Associated Press profiled ASU on March 25, 2007, citing the dynamic nature of the institution and similarly highlighting its recent educational and research successes. The profile was carried in many notable publications, including USA Today, CNN.com and the International Herald Tribune.

The value of your degree is rising:

Such accolades are critical not only for the university, but also for students and alumni. The recognition not only highlights the opportunities available to you, but raises the perceived value of the education at Arizona State University. Studies show that students who received degrees from schools of higher-perceived value have an even higher return on their investment in their education than others, through both greater earnings potential and more expansive job opportunities.