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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
Arizona high school graduates; tuition
Purpose
Establishes the Arizona high school graduate tuition rate (Arizona tuition rate) for graduating Arizona students who meet outlined requirements.
Background
The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) is the governing entity for Arizona's university system which consists of Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the University of Arizona (UA). ABOR was created by the Arizona Constitution (Ariz. Const. art. 11 § 5) and statute provides and defines ABORs general authority related to the universities. This includes fixing tuition rates and fees and differentiating between residents, nonresidents, undergraduate students, graduate students, students from foreign countries and students earning credit hours in excess of the credit hour threshold (A.R.S. § 15-1626).
FY 2019 Arizona University System Undergraduate Tuition
|
School |
Resident Tuition |
Non-Resident Tuition |
|
ASU |
$10,822 |
$28,336 |
|
NAU |
$11,564 |
$25,828 |
|
UA |
$12,447 |
$36,346 |
A community college is an educational institution that is operated by a community college district governing board (district board) and that provides a program not exceeding two years' training in the arts, sciences and humanities beyond the 12th grade of the public or private high school course of study or vocational education, including terminal courses of a technical and vocational nature and basic adult education courses (A.R.S. § 15-1401). District boards adopt policies and set standards for the establishment, development, administration, operation and accreditation of community colleges within the district. This includes fixing tuition rates for institutions and residents, nonresidents and students from foreign countries (A.R.S. § 15-1445).
FY 2019 Community College Tuition and Fees (30 hours per year, or 15 hours per semester)
|
District |
Cost Per Credit Hour |
Resident Annual Cost |
Cost Per Credit Hour |
Non-Resident Annual Cost |
|
Cochise |
$85 |
$2,550 |
$260 |
$7,800 |
|
Coconino |
$109 |
$3,270 |
$381.50 |
$11,445 |
|
Gila |
$80 |
$2,400 |
$370 |
$11,100 |
|
Graham |
$90 |
$2,700 |
$380 |
$11,400 |
|
Maricopa |
$85 |
$2,550 |
$326 |
$9,780 |
|
District |
Cost Per Credit Hour |
Resident Annual Cost |
Cost Per Credit Hour |
Non-Resident Annual Cost |
|
Mohave |
$81 |
$2,430 |
$283.50 |
$8,505 |
|
Navajo |
$74 |
$2,220 |
$355 |
$10,650 |
|
Pima |
$83 |
$2,490 |
$304 |
$9,120 |
|
Pinal |
$86 |
$2,580 |
$370 |
$11,100 |
|
Santa Cruz |
$83 |
$2,490 |
$304 |
$9,120 |
|
Yavapai |
$87 |
$2,610 |
$366 |
$10,980 |
|
Yuma/La Paz |
$84 |
$2,520 |
$317 |
$9,510 |
Currently, state or local public benefit is defined as any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, unemployment benefit, or any other similar benefit for which payments or assistance are provided to an individual, household or family eligibility unit by an agency of a state or local government or by appropriated funds of a state or local government (8 U.S.C. § 1621).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Arizona tuition rate for an individual who applies for admission to an Arizona university or community college after graduating from an Arizona public, private, charter or home school, or an individual who is educated pursuant to an empowerment scholarship account.
2. Delegates to ABOR and the district boards the authority to prescribe the tuition rates and requires ABOR and the district boards to:
a) verify that the individual's high school diploma meets the outlined requirements; and
b) treat all diplomas in the same manner.
3. Specifies an individual who previously qualified for the Arizona tuition rate maintains eligibility for the same tuition rate, if that individual is continuously enrolled in the educational institution.
4. Excludes postsecondary education from the definition of a state or local public benefit as prescribed.
5. Defines continuously enrolled as without nonenrollment for 12 months or more.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Exempts postsecondary education from the definition of a state or local public benefit.
2. Eliminates the requirement that an individual must apply, within four years after graduation, to a university or community college to qualify for the Arizona tuition rate.
3. Eliminates session law requiring an individual to apply, before July 1, 2021, and within 12 years after graduation, to a university or community college to qualify for the Arizona tuition rate.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Specifies a high school graduate from an Arizona school as outlined is eligible for the Arizona tuition rate.
2. Specifies ABOR and the district boards recognize and treat all diplomas in the same manner.
Senate Action
HEWD 2/4/19 DPA 6-0-1
3rd Read 2/20/19 18-12-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 20, 2019
JO/gs