University of California system approves first tuition increase in seven years

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- The price for a diploma from a UC school will be higher come fall as the school system's board of regents approved a hike in tuition for all 10 of their campuses on Thursday.

Tuition will go up little more than $280 for in-state students and student services fees by $54, bringing the cost of attendance to $12,630. That doesn't include other university fees, room and board, or books.

Some students say paying the current tuition is hard enough.

"Tuition is already pretty expensive, personally I've taken out loans," said Karina De Guzman, UC Merced student.

For out of state students the increase is higher, with a more than $1,600 increase a year.

UC officials said with an increased enrollment and less state funding, the tuition hike will help with expanding course, improving faculty to student ratio, and improving technology.

"We're at a point that if we don't invest the quality of education is going to suffer," said Claire Doan, UC spokesperson.

Doan said a third of the increase will go toward financial aid helping more than half of UC students cover their total costs.

Vice Chancellor for UC Merced Charles Nies said his concern is for the student's don't qualify for financial help.

"It's going to affect those in the middle income bracket, families who middle income is above $80,000 and up, that range the financial aid isn't necessarily as robust so making up that additional money they need is going to hit them pretty hard."

Some students say it's too much.

"Maybe the better option is to go to community college for two years, then transfer-- that might be a cheaper option," said Simon Ye, UC Merced student.

While others will are just settling for the change.

"It's not always the best thing but it's what we got. Unfortunately it's what we got," said Andrew Weisner, UC Merced student.

Nies said they are going to try to do everything possible to make a UC Merced education more affordable for every student by continuing to robust financial aid packages.

We also asked the UC spokesperson about more scholarships or other financial help for students, they say they don't have specifics on anything but its quote "something we're considering going forward."