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APSU committee approves authorization for up to 5% tuition and mandatory fee increase for 2025–26
Summary
The Austin Peay State University Business and Finance Committee authorized up to a 5% increase in tuition and mandatory fees for the 2025–26 academic year to address rising costs, while holding housing rates flat and leaving the out‑of‑state differential unchanged; the motion passed on a 5–0 roll call.
The Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees Business and Finance Committee on an item related to tuition and fees authorized the university to increase undergraduate and graduate tuition and mandatory fees by up to 5% for the 2025–26 academic year, university finance staff and trustees said.
Vice President for Finance and Administration Shahruz Rehbovar told the committee the request is intended “to combat the university's increased costs,” and that the university’s trailing five‑year average increase would be about 2.7% per year if the board approves the change. He also said the allowed increase provides flexibility: “We request the board approve up to a 5% increase in tuition and mandatory fees for the next fiscal year. This allows for the university to be nimble with the market demands and not fully utilize the allowed increase if not needed by the fall.”
The committee was told that with the proposed increases Austin Peay State University (APSU) would remain the second‑most affordable public four‑year institution in Tennessee on undergraduate tuition and would likewise remain highly priced competitively for graduate tuition. Rehbovar presented a per‑credit breakdown and a slide showing distribution of mandatory fee increases and their intended uses, including staffing for campus maintenance and trades, technology and classroom upgrades, introduction of AI tools within academic programs, increased funding for University Health Services to retain qualified professionals, and expanded student athletic care.
Trustee Roe, who spoke at length during discussion, acknowledged the burden an increase imposes on students but urged balancing affordability with retaining faculty and staff. “That's not to minimize that. For a lot of people, that's a lot of money. But that is very affordable,” Roe said while noting APSU’s relative affordability compared with several other institutions.
Committee members also heard three specific conditions attached to the proposal from staff: housing rates would remain flat for the coming year, the out‑of‑state tuition differential would not increase, and graduate tuition is likewise proposed for an increase of up to 5%. Rehbovar said mandatory fee increases include a campus access fee for maintenance staffing needs and technology access fees to keep up with enterprise software licensing and classroom technology.
The motion to approve the tuition and mandatory fees as requested was moved and seconded (mover/second not specified in the transcript). A roll call recorded five affirmative votes: Trustee Atkins (yes); Trustee Cannata (yes); Trustee Jenkins (yes); Trustee McGinnis (yes); and Trustee Roe (aye). The motion carried, recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays.
The board did not set specific dollar amounts in committee beyond the up‑to‑5% authorization; Rehbovar said the university may not implement the full increase if market conditions change before fall.
Votes at a glance: Tuition and mandatory fees for 2025–26 — approved (5–0).
