OLYMPIA — The state Board for Community and Technical Colleges has frozen tuition for resident and nonresident students at two-year colleges this fall.
It is the first time since 1989 that tuition will remain flat for students in the two-year college system.
Tuition will remain $4,000 per year for resident students and $9,235 for nonresident students in the 2013-2014 academic year.
“This is an historic event and a great day for our students,” said state board chair Beth Willis.
“We appreciate the Legislature’s decision to provide enough state funding for community and technical colleges to freeze tuition,” she added.
“The state’s investment will pay off many times over in a skilled, educated workforce that uplifts the economy for all Washingtonians in every corner of the state.”
Approved by the state Legislature in June, the 2013-2015 operating budget spared higher education from budget cuts, made additional investments and directed colleges and universities to not increase tuition for state residents.
However, the Legislature kept the door open for an increase in tuition for out-of-state students.
The state board voted to keep nonresident tuition flat as well, since out-of-state students traditionally pay the same dollar amount in tuition increase as in-state students.
