Oregon State University’s Board of Trustees voted Friday to freeze tuition rates for returning students in light of COVID-19.

The tuition freeze applies to undergraduate students already enrolled at OSU’s Corvallis and Bend campuses, according to a press release. It applies to students taking classes during summer term and for the 2020-21 academic year.

Other students will see tuition increase, though. The board approved a 3.2% tuition increase for new undergraduate students in Corvallis. For the Bend campus, in-state students will see a tuition increase of 4.72%, and new out-of-state students will have a 3.2% increase.

Graduate students also will see a tuition increase between 2.5% and 4.5%.

However, OSU also is considering providing tuition relief to new students enrolling this fall, the release stated.

The university plans to continue reviewing the impacts of COVID-19 along with OSU’s financial situation in the coming weeks. The board will decide at its May 26 meeting whether to provide that relief.

Mandatory student fees also were dropped by more than 11% for spring term, bringing the cost of fees down from $398 to $353. At the Bend campus, fees will drop from $267 to $111.

OSU President Ed Ray stated in the release that COVID-19 has created “uncertainty and financial insecurity” for students.

“By freezing tuition rates for one year for continuing undergraduate students, OSU is saying we not only understand these challenges, but (also) we are offering a commitment that we will help students affordably complete their education,” Ray stated.

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