Submitted by South Puget Sound Community College
On June 30, the Washington state Legislature approved a first-ever tuition reduction at state colleges and universities in the 2015-17 state budget. Tuition costs at SPSCC and the 33 other state community and technical colleges will drop by 5-percent beginning this fall.
Currently, the average tuition at Washington state community and technical colleges is $3,217 per quarter (tuition reflects only the tuition rate, not including additional fees). That would become a $3,056 average in the 2015-17 biennium. For SPSCC specifically, the new tuition rates will be $102.75 per credit for Washington residents, and $115.98 per credit for non-resident tuition.
That all adds up to significant savings for current and prospective students.
“This tuition reduction is greatly needed to support students’ access to education,” SPSCC Vice President for Student Services Dave Pelkey said. “It presents a great opportunity for all students but has the potential to significantly help our most vulnerable students achieve their educational goals.”
SPSCC High School Relations and Outreach Program Manager Christina Winstead agreed.
“Five percent may not sound like a lot of money to some, but every little bit helps,” she said. “To put it in perspective, students will be saving about $75 each quarter if they are a full-time student. Over the course of the school year that is $225 that can pay for some textbooks, a babysitter during finals, or even help with bills. It makes me happy to know that students will pay less next year to work towards their educational goals.”
