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2025-26 Undergraduate Tuition and Fee Increase Proposal

Tue May 20 08:40:36 PDT 2025  
I believe that this modest increase, especially when combined with strategic budget reductions, will help UofM me a leaner and more efficient educational institution.
Tue May 27 13:17:24 PDT 2025   please do not raise tuition. we can barely afford it as is and no improvements are being made for current students. 
Tue May 27 13:17:38 PDT 2025   This is horrible. We pay taxes. Get a grip.
Tue May 27 13:18:17 PDT 2025  
I do not support the proposed 4.92% increase in undergraduate in-state tuition and mandatory fees for the 2025-26 academic year. This statement and proposal are concerning for several reasons:
1. Financial Burden on Students: Many students and families are already struggling to afford higher education, especially amid inflation and rising living costs. Increasing tuition, even slightly, adds to this burden and may force some students to reduce their course loads, take on more debt, or drop out entirely.
2. Lack of Transparency and Detail: While the statement mentions broad goals like “increasing enrollment” and “supporting research,” it fails to provide specific, measurable outcomes or a detailed breakdown of where the additional funds will go. Students deserve clarity on how their increased tuition will directly benefit them.
3. Timing and Limited Engagement: The notice feels rushed, with only a narrow public comment window. Many students may be unaware of this proposal over summer break, limiting their ability to engage meaningfully.
4. Contradiction of Mission: The University claims the increase supports “student success” and affordability, yet raising costs contradicts these goals. Success should not come at the expense of accessibility.
5. Misplaced Priorities: Rather than increasing student costs, the University should aggressively seek alternative funding sources, reassess administrative expenses, and better allocate existing resources. Prioritizing tuition hikes over creative financial solutions does not demonstrate a student-first mindset.
 
In short, this proposal seems out of touch with the current economic realities students face. I urge the Board to reconsider and to involve the student body in shaping more equitable solutions.
Tue May 27 13:18:55 PDT 2025  
College is already expensive enough for families. You will see less students enroll if you increase the price.
Tue May 27 13:19:03 PDT 2025   This increase seems reasonable to me.
Tue May 27 13:19:33 PDT 2025   If I’m paying more money to feed the schools pocketbook I better see this money come into the Chemistry building or anything other than the engineering or sports complexes. 
Tue May 27 13:20:22 PDT 2025   Employees are already paying 50% of this tuition for our dependents, so unless there's also a plan to include wages at least this much, I am one employee who objects to any sort of tuition increase.  
Tue May 27 13:20:43 PDT 2025   I’m already broke and paying out of pocket can you not…. 
Tue May 27 13:21:05 PDT 2025   The continued increase of tuition may lead to me having to drop out.
Tue May 27 13:21:18 PDT 2025   I can already barely afford tuition. I skip meals because I can't afford food. An additional $260 fee doesn't seem significant to a company, but individually this is extremely detrimental.
Tue May 27 13:21:34 PDT 2025   Yes!  UofM is still a very good deal.
Tue May 27 13:21:55 PDT 2025   Can y’all not. It’s nice that you said “twice in the last 5 years” but in reality it’s “4 of the last 6 years” nice way to confuse the public. Life’s expensive enough and the quality of education is laughable. Fire bad instructors before trying to increase tuition, or how about make a different change and decrease the tuition 
Tue May 27 13:22:34 PDT 2025   Please do not allow this increase. It is hard enough as it is with the current amount. Increasing will only cause more stress on us students on top of the stress we already have from the classes we take. I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety since starting college and seeing this just sent my anxiety through the roof!! I've already had sit out this summer because I could not afford to pay out of pocket. This increase scares me especially right here when I'm approaching the finish line. Please reconsider!! 
Tue May 27 13:22:48 PDT 2025   In state tuition is already high! I don't see the increase serving anyone except the people's pockets the money will be filling. It's tragic enough as freshmen that we pay for BASIC classes from which we've taken for 4 years in high school already. If anything in state tuition should be lowered!!! Increase it for the people coming out of state! There are little to no rewards for attending a college in state but there are many for out of state. What type of reward would an increase in tuition be? It'd be a regret, and another reason to seek education somewhere else. 
Tue May 27 13:22:50 PDT 2025   The constantly changing course prerequisites and changing degree plans and requirements already imposes heavy financial and mental burdens on students and families, especially with the declining number of opportunities for financial aid for those who are not considered minorities. An increase would make what is already an immense burden that most can barely afford and make it impossible for those working their way through college and barely getting by financially while fighting for their futures. Students are already paying numerous different required fees, that often don’t even get put towards services they need or want.  
Tue May 27 13:23:11 PDT 2025   Memphis has one of the worst crime rates in America also leading with STD rates being top 5 in that to. The only reason people go here is because of the cost. If you're going to raise it why wouldn't the kids go to UTK?
Tue May 27 13:24:06 PDT 2025   This increase is necessary and timely. I fully support this proposal.
Tue May 27 13:25:16 PDT 2025   Please do not increase the tuition. I am already having to work two jobs to be able to barely afford an education. 
Tue May 27 13:25:20 PDT 2025   I believe the rise in tuition is extremely modest and gracious of the board. The UofM has absorbed many of the rising costs like operational fuel, electricity costs, supply costs, to name a few and not passing it along like many other higher educational facilities have.   
Tue May 27 13:25:50 PDT 2025   I don’t want to pay more but I will.
Tue May 27 13:27:03 PDT 2025   There are already students who can hardly afford tuition currently.  With everything going on in the educational department, increasing tuition when there’s not enough funding given to support tuition cost is an unwise decision. 
Tue May 27 13:27:14 PDT 2025   The tuition and fee increase is not in the best interest of the university. Students are already scraping by to afford the expenses that accompany a college education. This increase will only make the decision to go somewhere else easier for students. 
Tue May 27 13:27:17 PDT 2025   The University enrollment has been down due to the cost-benefit of the school. By increasing tuition, you are simply going to worsen the problem that the University as a whole is facing. Unless there is an increase in security or student experience (i.e. improvements to outdated and broken facilities), there will not be any buy-in from your community or prospective students. The low cost of the University and accessibility to the local community is what makes it a beneficial school for all students. To recruit high-achieving students who are statistically more likely to continue on into graduate school, you have to provide a readily noticeable benefit (cost).
Tue May 27 13:27:23 PDT 2025   Stop raising tuition when you are doing nothing to make the everyday lives of undergraduate students more affordable on campus or using it to improve our everyday lives/education. The Big Beautiful Bill is set to pass which caps Pell grants and student loans meaning we already are going to have to pay more out of pocket without a tuition increase. Let’s try to think about the 18-22 students who are working full time at jobs that barely pay enough to afford to keep us enrolled in school much less alive. 
Tue May 27 13:30:37 PDT 2025   Tuition is already too artificially inflated as it is. Vote no.
Tue May 27 13:32:32 PDT 2025   If you guys are going to raise tuition, I would greatly appreciate it that benefit the students. It’s upsetting to go into Fogelman and see how nice the facility is while other buildings like Patterson, Mitchell, and Ellington Hall are so neglected. Instead of focusing on just your business admin students, please give some care to the other majors. 
Tue May 27 13:33:09 PDT 2025   College tuition is already prohibitively expensive and it should be considered that Memphis is a low income city. Thank you
Tue May 27 13:35:56 PDT 2025   The cost of education is already at an all time high, and increasing the debt rates due to most students having to utilize financial aid. While the proposed budget increase may be in effort to produce “well-rounded and successful graduates”, an increase in financial stress will not provide that. New technology is great but is not utilized by all in attendance. If the rates are increased for these advancements, the global students should be given a different rate due to their lack of presence on campus and utilization of the campus resources. Claiming to offer higher scholarship amounts is also contraindicative due to not being able to offer hefty scholarships to each student. The university produces highly educated and thriving graduates who often return for post baccalaureate degrees, increasing the tuition amount will not correlate a higher success rate with these previous statistics. Our economy is in a crisis with the cost of living, and post pandemic pricing. Students seek college to grow their knowledge and often provide a service to the public. Education should not be as expensive as it already is, as the quality of education provided is not always up to par with the tuition rates. We young adults do not need anymore financial burdens or hardships moving forward. Please consider the overall outcome of this increase, rather than trying to justify this increase with promises of materialistic items that will ultimately be irrelevant and forgotten in the future. 
Tue May 27 13:37:09 PDT 2025   Tuition is already high enough. Every year there seems to be an increase that's not going to improve anything education wise.
Tue May 27 13:37:35 PDT 2025   I already find it hard to maintain the remaining funds for the tuition, and the proposal of an increase wouldn’t help with managing funds. 
Tue May 27 13:41:47 PDT 2025   As a student whose enjoyed the tuition locked price at the University of Memphis, what I hope to see through an increase in my tuition is a real improvement to the quality of instructors and professors throughout my classes. I think a small 5% tuition increase like this is fine, but once UofM gets to be more expensive than what the average person can afford, enrollment is only going to drop further. I do think we do the best we can with the budget that Memphis affords different departments and areas of student interest, but we genuinely need improvements to the student quality of life wherever those improvements can be made. Students are still living in and paying for dorm rooms with mold and structural problems, some departments are in desperate need of renovation, and if you ask anybody if the campus is being well-maintained, you may not hear the most favorable answers. 
Tue May 27 13:42:47 PDT 2025  

Public Comment: Opposition to Proposed Tuition Increase

I am writing to express my concern about the proposed 4.92% increase in tuition and mandatory fees. As an independent college student who works two jobs and lives on my own without any financial support from my family, I am already struggling to keep up with the cost of attending the University of Memphis.

Adding nearly 5% more to my tuition would make it even harder for me to stay enrolled. Every semester is a financial challenge, and I constantly have to make difficult decisions just to afford rent, groceries, and school expenses.

I understand the university has needs, but raising tuition places an unfair burden on students like me who are doing everything we can just to stay afloat. I ask that the Board consider students in my situation and look for alternative solutions that don’t make education less accessible for those who need it most.

Thank you for your time and for considering my perspective.

Tue May 27 13:46:03 PDT 2025   No
Tue May 27 13:46:03 PDT 2025   There is no need for tuition to go up for instate when the reason most people go is because it’s affordable. Also you took away the semester loan laptop unless all the money is put into bringing that back there is no point for the increase. Most instate students don’t even use half the necessities that are provided for out of state such as dorms and the tiger eats money. 
Tue May 27 13:49:37 PDT 2025   I am personally opposed to this tuition raise. While the University of Memphis has had falling enrollment, this will not solve our issue. If we want students to come we have to provide them something that nearby schools like don’t offer. This won’t do anything but make us look worse especially when a selling point is we have only had one small tuition raise in 9 years.
Tue May 27 14:01:09 PDT 2025   Why increase fees when there’s a bill about to be passed that will make it harder for students to get financial assistance. I believe this is not the best approach. 
Tue May 27 14:02:06 PDT 2025   The current issue is a lack of job opportunities. With rising tuition costs, is attending college still worth it, especially since there is no guarantee that graduates will secure a job afterward? Schools may increase tuition, but what will happen to current and future students after graduation? If the school genuinely cares, it should have answers to these important questions.
Tue May 27 14:33:09 PDT 2025   Will this increase eventually affect graduate tuition and fees? In what departments will the reduction occur? 
Tue May 27 14:52:08 PDT 2025   With the increase in tuition how will the students on campus benefit from this . We are paying for tuition and we see new advancements in athletics, in engineering but regular students are not benefiting. Housing options are becoming slim and no new renovations. How will we be able to see where our money is going .
Tue May 27 14:55:17 PDT 2025   Tuition should not be raised, many impoverished students are barely able to attend at the current rate.
Tue May 27 15:03:49 PDT 2025   The University of Memphis should not increase their college tuition. College is so expensive. I do not receive any financial assistance. I do not know why they will not give me any financial aid. 
Tue May 27 15:35:43 PDT 2025   The University is failing students at the most basic needs.  Repeatedly hiking tuition instead of lobbying the State for more funding.  The State of Tennessee certainly could provide more funding if the University would offer compelling reasons.  I took one online class and it costs $2,300.   Think about this cost - students are looking at that price tag and your enrolled students will drop in numbers over time.  You are forcing students into lifelong debt and what do they receive in return?  They don't receive a lot of 1:1 attention from professors or advisors. They don't benefit from a strong career department helping find new graduates' jobs.    Do better.
Tue May 27 15:40:25 PDT 2025   This is so harmful to lower income students, keep tuition low!!
Tue May 27 15:53:07 PDT 2025   Undergraduate tuition was already increased last year. Increasing tuition two years in a row is not a good look for the school. I believe this will cause enrollment to drop. A lot of high school graduates choose the UofM because it’s one of the only schools they can afford. Another increase affects a lot of students, especially those that don’t receive enough aid to cover the full cost of attendance. Please think about those that are already struggling to pay tuition as it is right now. 
Tue May 27 16:03:56 PDT 2025   If you want more students graduating from your university, then stop increasing the tuition cost. It’s already difficult for people to go to college, but increasing a public university every couple of years, makes it nearly impossible for people
Who truly want an education to achieve it.
Tue May 27 16:27:16 PDT 2025   What improvements to quality of education and access of resources at the University of Memphis legitimizes this tuition increase? Also, what economic boom is the city of Memphis experiencing for us students to deserve another tuition increase?
Tue May 27 16:45:10 PDT 2025   Please no increase, pleaseee!
Tue May 27 16:47:08 PDT 2025   Please don’t 
Tue May 27 16:55:19 PDT 2025   Please stop increasing our tuition. Considering that a good majority of the students who apply for scholarships through your university do not receive them (I am enrolled as a Master’s student who graduated from the UofM with a double major - magna cum laude and I received absolutely 0 scholarships from the University). It is becoming increasingly hard to live, and I do not want to choose between having dinner tonight or paying my school dues. Or at least think about upgrading the actual school and classrooms with the money you continue to take without any thoughts of the repercussions students face from increased tuition. 
Tue May 27 17:18:21 PDT 2025   The last thing us graphic design students need is an increase in tuition. The university is already trying to do away with providing necessary computer labs by requiring new students to provide their own laptops. Laptops that cost well over $1,000 to meet the specifications for graphic design none the less.
This increase in tuition would be ridiculous.
Tue May 27 17:30:56 PDT 2025   Do not increase tuition.
Tue May 27 17:56:05 PDT 2025  

Dear Board of Trustees,

I am writing as a current student at the University of Memphis to ask that you please reconsider the proposed 4.92 percent increase in tuition and fees.

For students like me who live in family housing, manage healthcare needs, attend year round, and live with a disability, the pressure to keep up is real. As an online student, I do not use many on-campus resources beyond housing, yet I still carry the weight of rising education costs along with everyday expenses like food, medication, and basic care.

After freshman year, many of the scholarship boosts are gone, even though needs increase. And as the cost of living rises, so does the emotional and financial strain on students who are already stretched thin.

I understand that universities across the country are making hard choices, but not all have approached it the same way. Harvard, for example, faced significant federal funding cuts and responded with leadership taking pay reductions to share the load. The University of Memphis has not faced those same losses, and yet the financial pressure continues to shift toward students.

Two of the last six years at Memphis saw no increase at all. That shows it is possible to explore other solutions when the goal is to protect students. I ask that you do the same now. Help us stay enrolled, stay housed, and stay focused on learning, without being pushed out by the cost of trying to survive.

Sincerely,
Jamie McEachern
University of Memphis Student

Tue May 27 18:02:04 PDT 2025  

Raising tuition won't solve UoM's problems at all. If anything, it will cause more problems for the students who want to achieve their dreams and graduating in their major. Stop wasting funds on putting up toll gates that back traffic up. You're raising tuition on students and expecting themselves to get expensive laptops AND purchase subscription to Adobe in the graphic art department is such a huge extra expense. JUST because UoM refuses to supply them with more computer labs. Because UoM refuses to supply them adequately, a few of the students have been held back from graduating. Therefore it becomes a lot more expensive for them. 

I WANT transparency with UoMs spending. 

STOP RAISING TUITION, MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR EVERY STUDENT! AND LISTEN TO YOUR STUDENTS!!!

Tue May 27 18:55:42 PDT 2025   don’t raise tuition please. 
Tue May 27 19:11:07 PDT 2025   no thank you 
Tue May 27 19:12:19 PDT 2025   I would like to emphasize how many students use financial aid to go to University of Memphis before this price raise. I am also concerned with the class and faculty cuts I have seen while Memphis increases costs. Will our staff numbers be maintained or increased? Is there a plan for such? Will this benefit departments who are struggling to maintain their teachers or professors, or departments of staff such as advising? Does this fee increase plan to help stop such cut backs?
Tue May 27 20:40:11 PDT 2025   The increase in tuition doesn’t seem good for students who are already working to pay for college. There is no consideration of how this affects students who already have to deal with so much. This is just an added burden to students already struggling to succeed in gaining their degree. I ask for a reconsideration of the need to increase tuition and fees.
Tue May 27 20:50:14 PDT 2025   This is the dumbest thing to ever happen
Tue May 27 21:25:27 PDT 2025   If costs to those seeing to enroll at this university are to increase, the amenities and experience at the university should do the same. Housing and dining are in great need of improvement. Let’s just be mindful of what college is about here. It’s understood that there’s a business aspect but there’s also a social aspect to this as well.
Tue May 27 22:06:50 PDT 2025   No need to increase the cost of tuition, maybe if the University's reputation was better would more people be funneling money into it. As a music major, the increase actually makes my life worse while not explicitly providing me anything of interest. The affordable cost is one of the reasons I am here, as a musician in school, I already barely get by with aid.
Wed May 28 02:41:17 PDT 2025   This will hurt the poorer students. There are alternative means of funding. 
Wed May 28 04:15:02 PDT 2025   I support this increase and I do not believe the additional amount will put an unrealistic burden on students.  The UofM tuition is below that of many other R-1 institutions with whom we compete for students and certainly reasonable for the quality education we provide our students.
Wed May 28 04:57:27 PDT 2025   greedy
Wed May 28 06:30:28 PDT 2025   If tuition has already been increased twice before a single decade of change, I'd prefer Trustees look to see how they can improve the community before allowing such a significant change for college students who can already barely afford to stay in this world. Do our alumni feel supported with the great change that comes from graduating and no longer having a college structured day after years? Are there any obvious pain points for students that can be solved to better help them accept this financial increase? I am not against this increase, but I do fear that allowing this increase means allowing a gradual change that is to the detriment of future students. How many more tuition increases will happen before the next generation of alumni is made? Why? Is it possible to revise existing budgets first? Do our Arts and STEM groups feel supported?
Wed May 28 06:47:25 PDT 2025   I do not think tuition should increase. It is already so expensive. 
Wed May 28 07:11:04 PDT 2025  

I think the university deserves the extra funding.

I think the students deserve the resources it will provide.

I think the student also deserve for the university to pledge to help find new scholarships and grants to help cover the costs for the percentage of students who aren’t on a tuition assistance programs outside of federal student aid or who are struggling to afford school.

Possibly introducing a certain number of waivers automatically given to certain students who have already shown need. A four-year commitment to help current students remain eligible.

Wed May 28 07:18:39 PDT 2025  

Increased revenue should be used to improve campus facilities for existing and new students. Increasing enrollment will not improve campus experience without significant investments in facilities like the McWherter Library. Otherwise, I oppose the increase. 

Wed May 28 07:20:19 PDT 2025  

We want the school to be funded and the tuition to increase so that the school can grow and maintain - we just don’t want the students to pay for it.

We want the communities and businesses who are served by our graduates to pay for it so that our students can focus on being students.

I want to see tuition costs double, as long as someone besides the students are paying for it!

 

Wed May 28 07:20:19 PDT 2025   I reject the 2025-26 Undergraduate Tuition and Fee Increase Proposal for the following reasons: 1) The average tuition increase for the University of Memphis is 1.8%, however this increase is 4.92%, 2.5x this rate. 2) Lack of thorough explaination of fund usage; request the University of Memphis Board of Trustees provides a budget for spending of anticipated funds. 3) Insufficient optimization of current resources. The proposal includes possible budget reductions, but these steps have not been attempted before concluding a tuition increase is the more affective outcome. Tuition increases of this radical nature deter enrollment for all students, due to the financial burden associated with higher tuition. I ask the University of Memphis Board of Trustees to strongly reconsider this proposal that could have permanent, detrimental effects on current and prospective undergraduates.
Wed May 28 08:04:05 PDT 2025   Please don't!!!! it's already hard to afford school as is.
Wed May 28 08:05:35 PDT 2025   Please do not do this, I know at the end of the day this entire thing is a business, but the out of state fees are also just so much.
Wed May 28 08:16:44 PDT 2025   no.. like please. no..
Wed May 28 08:21:05 PDT 2025   This is the second proposal to increase in less than two years. We are students gaining an education and racking up debt trying to do it. This country is in a state of inflation, which makes it difficult to even buy groceries. I vote no to the increase. 
Wed May 28 10:32:20 PDT 2025   Why would we have to pay more if we are from the state, shouldn’t people who are out of state pay more? A lot of us go here since it’s a bit more affordable so kind of crazy that we would be the ones getting charged more instead of out of state students, tiger eats already takes out a big amount even if we don’t want it to so why charge more to us?
Wed May 28 10:33:56 PDT 2025   Is there a way to see how mandatory fees are divided and spent?
Wed May 28 20:08:24 PDT 2025   If 86.4% of students are receiving some form of financial aid, what makes the board think that students specifically in- state can pay more tuition and fees? I'm sure if the university really wants to help out their students they can find other ways to get money to improve the school. Remember with no students there would be no university so I disapprove of increasing tuition and fees. 
Thu May 29 06:44:41 PDT 2025   You all should be DECREASING tuition. It’s hard enough for anyone to attend college as it is, any increase no matter the size WILL impact current and future students. If your tuition was lower it’s likely individuals could afford MORE classes. Which is return would bring MORE money. I wanted to take a course or two over the summer (online) but could not afford to because your tuition is already outrageous and costs more than the ONE class! Even when it’s ONLINE. Stop trying to rob the students and their families just because you need more money. Smh 
Thu May 29 13:44:47 PDT 2025   Increasing tuition would put up more barriers that Memphians already struggle with. Why not raise out-of-state tuition and take care of those who put their time in here?
Thu May 29 13:47:43 PDT 2025   I do not believe this proposal to increase undergraduate in-state tuition at the June 4 meeting is beneficial, given college students' ongoing financial challenges, such as rising inflation on food and living expenses, especially in the last few months alone. Increasing tuition at this time would only exacerbate these difficulties and place an additional burden on students.
Thu May 29 14:46:13 PDT 2025   Why!!! College is so hard to pay for and not everyone gets Student Aid like you think. I've paid out of pocket for the past 3.5 semesters and am in 30+ grand student loan debt. I'm tired of the tuition raising every year. 
Fri May 30 09:28:09 PDT 2025
  Tuition is already ridiculous at the moment, is an increase really necessary? Are there going to be overall improvements for the students to warrant this?
Fri May 30 10:59:25 PDT 2025   Wow that is ridiculous. It's already expensive. 
Fri May 30 11:41:11 PDT 2025   I’m already kind of struggling to afford my tuition even with scholarships, can we at least have specific reasoning if there is a tuition increase? In my opinion, it is not preferred whatsoever. Thank you. 
Fri May 30 13:21:41 PDT 2025   Please do not raise the price of fees and tuition. Every time you increase prices you harm the current and future students and create a bigger barrier to education than already exists. If you want students to come to your university over other major universities, you must also consider keeping the costs affordable. In this economy people are struggling to survive. Please don’t add to that struggle. 
Fri May 30 17:46:51 PDT 2025  

As a student at the University of Memphis, I strongly oppose the proposed tuition increase to fund new athletic dorms. While I fully support our athletic programs and student-athletes, it is not the responsibility of the general student body to cover these costs—especially when the university already receives funding from various sources, including athletics revenue, donations, and state support.

There is currently nothing critically wrong with the existing housing or transportation arrangements for athletes. If distance is a concern, options like carpooling can be considered—as many of us already do. The burden should not fall on students who are already struggling to afford tuition, books, and basic living expenses.

This proposal also raises critical questions: What provisions are being made for non-athlete students who are barely making ends meet? If tuition is raised, will there be a corresponding increase in scholarships or financial aid for those in need? Will academic programs and student services benefit from this increase as well?

Before implementing any increase, I urge university leadership to consider the financial strain it places on the broader student body. We deserve transparency, fairness, and prioritization of academic and financial equity over nonessential capital projects.

Mon Jun 02 09:14:50 PDT 2025  

Please provide reasoning as to why tuition is not being increased for out of state students as well.

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