Washington State University officials are recommending the university system’s regents adopt the maximum tuition rate increase allowed for the next academic year. 

Under the recommendation, tuition for undergraduate and graduate students would increase by 3.3%. That would increase resident tuition by $385 and $445, respectively, according to a memo, with tuition rates for WSU’s Global Campus nearly matching. 

Non-residents would see tuition increases of $950 for undergraduate coursework and $985 for graduate coursework. 

Since 2018, state law capped tuition rate increases at no more than the average annual percentage growth rate in the state’s median hourly wage over the past 14 years, as determined by the state’s Office of Financial Management. 

Only three times since the tuition cap was implemented has WSU not sought the maximum increase allowed.  

“If tuition had increased to the maximum in the three years the university opted for a rate lower than the state cap, the resident undergraduate tuition would be $114 more per year than it is at this time,” the memo read. “That is an approximate loss of $2.5 million in annual tuition at the current enrollment level.” 

The regents will consider the tuition increase proposal during a scheduled meeting in Seattle on Nov. 14.