Oregon Public Broadcasting

The cost of attending a 4-year university in Washington could go up 28-percent over the next two years.

Governor Chris Gregoire Tuesday proposed granting universities new tuition-setting authority to help offset budget cuts. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Washington’s higher education system faces upwards of 30-percent reductions in the next two year budget.

Gregoire says that’s too deep and will mean students who want to go to college can’t. So Gregoire is proposing to allow 4-year universities to increase tuition 14-percent a year for the next two years.

Gregoire tells students and families across the state it would cost them an extra $500 a year.

Chris Gregoire: “And if we don’t do that you’ll pay a whole lot more, a whole lot more than $500 for one year, you’ll have to pay for another year to get the classes that you need to graduate on time.

Under her proposal, Community and Technical College tuition would rise 7 percent a year. Gregoire says extra federal aid should help offset the higher cost to many students.

She adds that Washington’s public universities would still remain one of the best values in the country.