Tuition fees, program fees, technology fees, student athletic fees, health and wellness fees, student service facility fees ... it goes on and on and on. Along with tuition, students with empty pockets are buried in a pile of costs, knowing little about where the money actually goes.
ASU's tuition is made up of many factors that contribute to the steady increase in tuition and fees seen over the past several years; however, there are many variables that go into setting the price.
The Arizona Board of Regents annually approves the tuition and fees for ASU, NAU and UA, according to an ASU spokesperson.
Found in the ABOR policy manual, the board uses a growth rate to aid in determining the price of tuition and fees.
Every four years, each university presents a proposal with an estimate on the growth rate for that cycle. The growth rate proposals help the board plan tuition increases years in advance so that students can predict their tuition costs.
Every year on Nov. 15, the proposed tuition and fees for the following academic year are submitted to the board by the presidents from each university.
Tuition cost differs largely based on if the student is a resident of Arizona. In-state students at public universities pay a lower tuition cost due to taxes that go toward university funding.
ASU President Michael Crow vowed to keep tuition increases under 3% or as close to zero as possible for Arizona residents, according to the 2023-2024 Tuition Proposal.
ASU has seen increases in tuition over the last decade. In 2010, ASU's tuition was $8,128 for residents and $20,592 for non-residents. For the 2025-2026 year, resident students have a base tuition of $11,822 and $34,014 for non-residents.
READ MORE: ASU increases tuition for 2024-2025 academic year across the board
Alongside higher tuition prices, the 2025-2026 proposal includes 10 new program fees for graduate students across seven colleges, according to ASU's Yourtuition website.
Tuition increases are also a result of the University adapting to new programs and technological advancements to provide the best experience for students.
PDF created by the Arizona Board of Regents, showcasing undergraduate base tuition and mandatory fees at ASU.
On top of tuition, students are expected to pay several fees, some of which include: a health and wellness fee of $80, a recreation fee of $28 for the Fall semester and $27 for the Spring semester, and a student athletic fee of $100.
While certain fees are determined based on the specific college students are enrolled in, other fees are charged to all students — such as the athletics fee, which grants students access to all of ASU's sporting events.
The recreation fee supports programs at Sun Devil Fitness Complexes such as fitness classes, aquatic programs and events.
Karen Banda, a junior studying computer science, said these extra fees should come with the ability to withdraw, so students who do not use the services do not need to pay for them.
"I'm one of those people that don't care about games," Banda said. "It should definitely be something like 'we could opt out of anything we don't use.'"
Banda said it can be a struggle to pay for services such as parking on top of tuition, which can range anywhere from $200 to $1,000 depending on location. Banda hopes to see these prices go down.
"(Tuition) should go down, for sure, but I think that about school in general. I'm very much 'free everything,'" Banda said. "With how much we're paying, I think parking should be free."
When it comes to paying tuition, students can take out loans or receive grants from the U.S. Department of Education to help cover the cost. These loans are typically deferred until six months after graduation, or if the student is below the minimum credit requirement.
The department offers different payment plan options to best fit the student and their income.
Maya Villar, a sophomore studying anthropology, said while the University is accessible in terms of acceptance rates, it's overpriced.
"I do think (the cost) should be more accessible," Villar said. "Loans are very helpful, but you hear a lot of people saying that they struggle to pay them back. They struggle with student debt after completing college."
Villar also said adding more diversity scholarships could be beneficial in helping students pay for their education without having to take out loans.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed on July 4, 2025, already has some changes rolling out, though others are not taking effect until later this year.
READ MORE: New federal law will force tough decisions for student loan borrowers
A spokesperson for ASU said that the University is assessing the recent legislation and its possible impact on students.
"Please note that all provisions that relate to student loans used to finance a degree do not take effect until July 2026 and therefore do not impact the 2025-2026 academic year," the spokesperson said. "ASU has taken a new approach to higher education and is proud to have created a new kind of American university where students need not choose between access and excellence."
Edited by Natalia Rodriguez, Senna James and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at alillest@asu.edu and follow @allylillestol on X.
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Allison Lillestol is a reporter for the community and culture desk. She is in her 3rd semester with the State Press. She also works for the Arizona PBS.
