WICHE Insights - Tuition and Fees, Appropriations, and Financial Aid in the West, AY 2023-24 - Trends and Implications

Oct 15, 2026

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WICHE Insights analyzes tuition and fees, state appropriations, and state grant aid across Western states for academic year 2023-24. The report finds a favorable recent fiscal outlook: tuition growth at public two- and four-year institutions runs below inflation, and FY 2024 state support rises 8% versus FY 2023. It also tracks need-based grant aid increases and highlights headwinds ahead, including lower postsecondary enrollment, evolving public perceptions, and FAFSA rollout delays.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and Fees at Public Four-Year Institutions

State Variation in Tuition and Fees Trends

WICHE INSIGHTS Tuition and Fees, Appropriations, and Financial Aid in the West, AY 2023-24: Trends and Implications Colleen Falkenstern, Senior Research Analyst, Policy Analysis and Research EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recent data across the three components of state higher education finance – tuition and fees, appropriations, and financial aid – present a favorable economic outlook in the West. On average, tuition and fees rates at two-and four-year institutions in the WICHE region increased at rates below inflation in the past year and remain below rates from a decade prior. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, state support to public postsecondary institutions increased by 8% compared to FY 2023. State grant aid increased on the aggregate and per student in Academic Year (AY) 2021-22 compared to the year prior, with larger increases for need-based aid programs. Despite these promising fiscal trends, postsecondary education faces several strong headwinds in the coming years. Enrollment in higher education remains below pre-pandemic levels and well below the high point in enrollment from AY 2010-11. Recent surveys suggest wavering public perception of postsecondary education, despite data that demonstrates the value of a higher education degree or credential. Institutions could face even more enrollment challenges as federal pandemic relief dollars are winding down and states could experience constrained fiscal resources. The impact of technical issues and delaysin the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may also substantially impact postsecondary enrollment. Lastly, the number of high school graduates is projected to peak nationwide in the next few years (although many states have already hit a peak and are now declining), while numerous data points indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to students being academically underprepared. Key Takeaways ▶ Regional average tuition and fees for resident undergraduates at public four-year institutions were $10,708 in AY 2023-24, an increase of 3% from AY 2022-23. ▶ Regional average in-district tuition and fees at public two-year institutions, excluding California, were $4,489 in AY 2023-24 and increased 3. 8% from the year prior. When including California, the regional average tuition and fees were $2,444 in AY 2023-24. ▶ Thirteen states in the WICHE region increased or maintained state fiscal support in FY 2024 compared to FY 2023. ▶ Total state financial aid dollars in the West have increased substantially in the past decade with more need-based aid awarded than the national average. ▶ Recent enrollment declines and wavering public perception of higher education presents an uncertain future for institutions and states. circle-dollar TUITION AND FEES AY 2023-24 $10,708 Tuition and fees at public four-year institutions $2,444 Tuition and fees at public two-year institutions building-columns STATE APPROPRIATIONS States in the West appropriated over $36 billion to higher education in FY 2024, an increase of 8% compared to FY 2023 hand-holding-dollar STATE GRANT AID $1,210 State grant aid per FTE in AY 2021-22 95% of all state grant aid awarded based on need 1 WICHE. EDU/TUITION-FEES TUITION AND FEES IN THE WEST WICHE’s annual survey of tuition and fees collects the resident and nonresident tuition and fees at public two-and four-year institutions in the WICHE region for undergraduate and graduate students. WICHE administered the most recent survey to state higher education executive offices, system offices, and institutions in each ofthe WICHE states, territories, and freely associated states in Summer 2023.1 Complete data from the survey are available on WICHE’s online dashboard and enable comparisons of rates over time, across states, territories, and freely associated states, and between Carnegie Classifications. Unless otherwise indicated, tuition and fees rates are in current U.

FAQs

What do the report’s recent fiscal trends indicate for the West?

They point to a favorable economic outlook: tuition and fees increased below inflation, and state support to public postsecondary institutions rose 8% in FY 2024 versus FY 2023.

How does state grant aid change, and what drives the increase?

State grant aid increases in aggregate and per student in AY 2021-22 compared with the prior year, with larger gains for need-based aid programs.

What challenges could affect higher education enrollment in the coming years?

Enrollment remains below pre-pandemic levels, and future risks include reduced federal pandemic relief, constrained state resources, FAFSA rollout technical issues, and projected peaks in high school graduates alongside concerns about academic preparedness.

Oct 15, 2026

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