Staff Reports | Community Updates
Maricopa Community Colleges will keep tuition unchanged for the fourth consecutive year, maintaining its focus on affordability and access for students across Maricopa County and Arizona.
The decision reflects feedback from students and aims to balance financial stability with student accessibility, according to a press release.
“Today’s students already face higher costs for transportation, groceries, utilities, and other necessities,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges. “It’s up to us to keep tuition low, and by doing so, we’re ensuring that higher education remains affordable and accessible to all learners.”
To assess the potential impact of a tuition increase, the system conducted a budget survey of students and held a focus group with elected student leaders from the Maricopa Student Senate.
Key findings included:
A $5 increase would be manageable for many students, but could strain some.
An $8 increase would increase the likelihood of stop-outs, borrowing and delayed completion.
Students indicated tuition increases present challenges for meeting basic needs.
“The Governing Board’s decision reflects a careful balance between fiscal responsibility and our commitment to student access,” said Dr. Linda Thor, governing board president of Maricopa Community Colleges. “Maricopa Community Colleges play a vital role in Arizona’s economic strength and in preparing the workforce that supports our state’s continued growth. Keeping tuition stable is one of the most direct ways we can support students, their families, and the long-term health of our communities.”
Tuition rates and fees
At a time when many public colleges and universities are increasing tuition, Maricopa Community Colleges will continue to hold rates steady.
Students will continue to pay:
$97 per credit hour for lower-division courses
$145.50 per credit hour for upper-division courses
The Governing Board also approved a change to simplify the registration fee structure. Students attending multiple Maricopa Community Colleges will now pay a single $15 registration fee per semester.
“One of the biggest reasons I chose GateWay was its affordability,” said Mark Garcia, a student completing his RN-BSN at GateWay Community College. “That made it possible for me to keep going in school without added financial stress, while still receiving great support and instruction.”
Maricopa Community Colleges serves more than 145,000 students annually and plays a role in workforce development across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, education and technology.
The system has operated for more than a decade without state operating aid and has increased tuition only once during that time, reflecting its focus on limiting costs for students while maintaining educational programs.
