University of Phoenix freezes tuition rate
Oct 15, 2012, 8:19 AM | Updated: 8:46 am
PHOENIX — While the cost of college keeps climbing, the University of Phoenix has said enough is enough.
The school has announced an immediate tuition freeze for all new and currently enrolled students. University spokesman Ryan Rauzon said the move gives students some stability when calculating the cost of a degree.
“We really tried to put a stake in the ground on affordability and make it crystal clear that if you are a student here or you’re thinking about becoming a student here you can clearly make your financial decisions accordingly,” Rauzon said.
The tuition freeze is being offered to any student who attends a class in a degree program from now through June 30, 2013 and meets other eligibility requirements.
“It’s now become a barrier to entry for people to enter a degree program,” Rauzon said.
“They’re concerned about not enrolling because they want to know exactly how much the degree will cost through the duration of the program if they stay consistently enrolled.”
From 2001-02 to 2011-12, in-state tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities increased at an average rate of 5.6 percent per year, beyond the rate of general inflation.
The for-profit school has been investigated by the federal government a handful of times and paid millions in fines for certain practices, including deceptive enrollment.
