Washington’s tuition increase second-highest since recession

A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that the state of Washington has experienced the second steepest tuition increase in the nation since the recession. The report, using 2013 data from the College Board, demonstrates that as the recession hit in 2008 and tax revenue dropped, the State Legislature relied on significant cuts to higher education baseline funding in order to balance the state budget.

The report comes at a time where there is a growing appreciation of the vital role of accessible and affordable public higher education. Data continues to show that a resilient economy is correlated with a well-educated citizenry. College graduates have refined skills and expanded opportunities in the job market, while also possessing the confidence and skills for life-long learning that motivates others to adopt similar goals.

According to a recent report by Pew Foundation, several critical measures of economic wellbeing and career attainment – from personal earnings to job satisfaction to staying employed full-time – college graduates are outperforming peers with less education. And in comparison with previous generations, the disparity in the economic outcomes between college graduates and those limited to a high school or less has never been greater.

With the evidence that a college education opens doors to better jobs, higher wages, and increased economic stability, the Center’s report demonstrates how deeply the state’s cuts impact higher education affordability for many students and families. In preparation for next year’s new biennial budget, the report opines that “[r]enewed investments in higher education will be needed to provide those graduating high school students a shot at a college education and a more prosperous future.”

tuition-increase