On Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, the UC regents renewed the tuition stability program, including approving a 5% tuition increase, reflecting federal and state funding gaps, as well as rising costs and lower tuition collections via decreasing international student enrollments.
The tuition stability program institutes an annual 5% tuition increase, but freezes that current rate for each incoming freshman class for six years. It also modifies the portion of tuition going to financial aid, lowering it by 5%.
Public higher educational institutions across the country are raising out-of-state rates to recover international student tuition losses; many to levels competing with private universities. Colleges and universities have historically used higher international fees to support lower domestic tuition rates and provide funds for scholarships. University of Michigan has published a total cost of attendance over $86,000, University of Virginia over $84,000. Out-of-state students enrolling at UCLA will see a total cost of more than $72,000 while UC Berkeley will set out-of-state students back more than $89,000. Private universities aren’t immune either, with the most expensive total cost of attendance exceeding $90,000, with Boston University, New York University and Vassar College seeing total costs at over $95,000. University of Southern California has published rates approaching $100,000. It is expected that next year’s class will see multiple institutions at more than $100,000 annually.
Due to the changing political climate, difficulty in acquiring visa approval, and threats of deportation, there have been year over year decreases in international enrollment, impacting approximately 57% of institutions surveyed. Reports indicated a 7% drop in enrollment in the fall of 2024 and a 17% drop in 2025, with the accompanying decrease in tuition collected, creating a financial burden on institutions which had enrolled as much as 15% of their student body as international students. This trend is likely to continue, as current monitoring of applications submitted to date for the entering first year class in 2026 indicates a decline of about 9%, with expectations that number will continue to decline.
While tuition costs are rising, access to funds is being cut via the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law July 4, 2025. Prior to being signed into law, parents could fund the entire cost of attendance via federal loan. Parent Plus Loans, the backbone of educational financing, are capped at no more than $20,000 per year and $65,000 in total per student. While interest rates for Parent Plus Loans can be slightly higher than home equity loans, they are typically lower than private student loans, and have more flexible repayment options, support for those who don’t have home equity to draw against and historically lower qualification requirements. This will most negatively impact those without home ownership and those who do not have enough equity in their homes to make a loan viable.
The OBBBA’s impact on post graduate funding is even more impactful; the bill redefined what is considered a “professional” degree and set tiered funding limits, with the following degrees still eligible for professional loans (capped at $50,000 annually, and $200,000 in total, including undergraduate loans): pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry and theology.
The following graduate degrees are no longer considered “professional” and will be ineligible for professional loans, and will be constrained in the amount graduate students can borrow (capped at $20,000 annually, and $100,000 lifetime, including undergraduate loans): nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, public health, social work, architecture, education and accounting.
It is notable that most of the reclassified occupations are traditionally held by women and minorities, further impacting equity in debt load, employment and pay.
Now, more than ever, families should include total cost of attendance and affordability in their evaluation of college fit.
Hollis Bischoff is a college admissions adviser for College Unlocked. For more information, email ho****@*************ed.com or visit collegeunlocked.com.
