WSU Announces Budget Reductions Amidst COVID-19 and Enrollment Declines

Washington State University (WSU) has been dealing with the long-term effects of COVID-19, as well as a decrease in enrollment which is in contrast to the record-breaking incoming classes at both the University of Idaho and University of Washington. This has led to a 7% decrease in enrollment for the 2023 academic year and a 6% reduction in core fund budgets.

WSU is coming up with strategies to increase enrollment for the upcoming fall semester, but still expects to see a drop in enrollment until 2025. To address the budgetary impact of the enrollment decline, WSU is proposing a 2.5% tuition increase for the 2023-24 academic year for undergraduate, graduate, and nonresident students.

Should this increase be approved at the May 2023 Board of Regents meeting, the Washington College Grant Program will still guarantee financial assistance for eligible resident undergraduate students, covering full tuition amounts (including increases) up to the maximum amount set by the Office of Financial Management later this spring, which is expected to be 2.5% or higher.