DAVIS Calif.
University of California leaders raised prices for professional schools Thursday, rejecting arguments that the increases close the door on poor students.
The increases, under which some campuses will be charging more than lesser-known branches, were a departure from the tradition of having more-or-less uniform fees by discipline across the 10-campus system.
Voting 13-5, the board approved fee hikes for the upcoming school year and endorsed increases for the following two years, although those hikes will require formal approval on a yearly basis.
Several professional schools asked for increases of 7 percent, which is in line with previous years, but some are asking for more.
Total fees at UC Berkeley’s law school will go to $31,000 in 2008-09, compared to $27,000 now. Under the endorsed schedule, the total could go as high as $41,000 by 2010-11, compared to $35,000 proposed by the law school at UC Davis. Meanwhile, Berkeley’s business school could charge $41,000 by 2010-11 compared to $31,000 at UC San Diego.
Supporters of the increases say the extra money is needed to maintain quality following deep cuts in state funding.
