4 Oregon public universities seeking tuition hikes

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Four of Oregon’s public universities will defend substantial tuition increases this week in front of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports Monday that the University of Oregon is proposing a 9.7% increase, the Oregon Institute of Technology seeks a 9% increase, Portland State University wants an 11% increase and Southern Oregon University is looking at a 13.5% jump.

Oregon State, as well as Eastern and Western Oregon universities, approved increases that are less than 5%.

The commission must OK tuition hikes of more than 5%.

The commission recently approved criteria to decide whether a university tuition increase is “appropriate.”

It will consider whether students were included in the process, what the impact on underrepresented students will be and whether financial stability is dependent on a tuition hike.