Oregon Board of Higher Education approves 2012–13 tuition increases

On June 1, the Oregon State Board of Higher Education approved the state tuition increases for the 2012–13 school year. State schools will experience an average increase of 3.8 percent. Portland State will see a tuition increase of 3.4 percent, just below the state average.

“We are very happy that the tuition increase is very modest and that some students will be able to decrease their net cost,” said PSU Director of Communications Scott Gallagher.

In a surprising shift, tuition and fees for students will be reduced. For an undergraduate student enrolled in 15 credits, the total tuition and fees for the 2011–12 school years came to $7,764. In 2012–13, tuition and fees for enrollment in the same number of credit hours will be $7,653, a decrease of 1.4 percent.

“Essentially the reasoning for that is the change in the student health insurance,” Gallagher said.

This year, PSU introduced a new health insurance program that provides students with more coverage and new benefits, including maternity expenses, surgery coverage and physical therapy coverage.

“The student health insurance is more robust for next year and more expensive. But, we are now allowing students who already have healthcare to opt out. About 60 percent of our students will be able to opt out which will result in a decrease in our tuition and fees costs,” Gallagher said.