CSU Students, State Assembly Debate Effectiveness Of 'Success Fees' Amid Tuition Freeze

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Despite a tuition freeze, students are paying more to attend classes on most of the Cal State University campuses.

The $5,472 annual tuition at Cal State's 23 campuses is set by the Board of Trustees and hasn't changed in three years - but there are other expenses, including so-called "Student Success Fees," hiking costs up to several hundreds dollars a semester for services and classroom improvements.

KNX1070's Ron Kilgore reports a recent editorial in the Cal State Long Beach Daily 49er newspaper says that while students don't like paying higher costs for their education, it could be in their best interest overall.

"We feel like if we're actually getting a better quality education and there's more technology and more resources available for students, then we do support paying an additional $79 per semester," 49er City Editor Shane Newell said.

"However, if the fee would be hundreds of dollars more, we would like the students to have a say," Newell added.

Critics say such fee hikes are end runs on the three-year-old tuition freeze.

San Rafael State Assemblyman Marc Levine, a member of the Committee on Higher Education, branded the fees a mistake, and says they should not be necessary.

"We want to make sure there is adequate and substantial state support, and give some relief to the students who have seen an increase in fees over the years," he said.

There is a push for student referendum on any fee hike, rather than increases at the discretion of a campus president.