The Utah Board of Higher Education has a statutory requirement to set the tuition for each higher education institution. (See Utah Code section 53B-1-402(2)(j)(iii)).  Further, Utah Code section 53B-7-101(8) (b) states that the Board may fix the tuition and fees for each institution at levels the Board finds necessary to meet budget requirements. The Board has established three policies that guide the process of setting tuition and fees:

• Board Policy R510, Tuition;
• Board Policy R511, Tuition Disclosure and Consultation; and
• Board Policy R516, General Student Fees.

The president of each institution, in consultation with their Board of Trustees, may recommend institutional tuition rate adjustments to the Board for review and action. The Board will meet after the legislative session to review and vote on the final proposed tuition adjustments. The tuition review by the Board will include a review of price-competitive tuition data, including comparisons with national and regional tuition and fee data, institutional cost data, median income statistics, average student debt load data, general and course fee data, and other affordability factors the Board identities to determine if tuition adjustments are necessary to maintain fairness and price competitiveness.

Prior to approving any tuition increase in tuition, the Board will hold a public hearing as part of their regularly scheduled Board meeting. In the hearing, the Board will provide an explanation of the reasons for the proposed increase, an explanation of how the revenue generated by the increase will be used, and an opportunity for public comment from students.

The Board normally establishes general student fees at the same time as tuition rates are approved.