Current WA House and Senate Budget Proposals & Their Impact on Higher Education

CTC faculty and staff to 3.6% and 3.2%.

All other higher ed faculty and staff receive pay increases parallel to state employee negotiations, which were 3% and 2%

Changes I-732 COLA for CTC faculty and staff to 3% and 2.7%

All other higher ed faculty and staff receive pay increases parallel to state employee negotiations, which were 3% and 2%

CTC COLA compensation remains funded at 100%

4-year regionals have varying fund splits: Eastern, 63%, Central, 59%, TESC, 75%, WWU, 51%

CTC COLA compensation remains funded at 100%

4-year regionals have varying fund splits: Eastern, 63%, Central, 59%, TESC, 75%, WWU, 51%

2% cut to 4-years with an additional $9.7 million cut at the Evergreen State College to bring its per student cost closer to the average among regional institutions

0.5% cut for CTCs

1% across the board cuts to higher education institutions and CTCs

Additional state savings calculated at 3% of the 5% increased tuition authority – this is assumed to be offset by increased tuition revenues

No changes to tuition policy, but the budget suspends the automatic inflation adjustment for College Affordability Program (CAP)* tuition backfill in the 2025-27 biennium, saving the state $13 million that will have to be absorbed by the institutions

Washington College Grant eligibility reduced from 65% to 60% MFI.

*CAP was established to keep higher ed tuition affordable by capping or reducing tuition rates. When tuition is reduced or capped, colleges and universities may receive “backfill” funding from the state’s General Fund to compensate for the lost tuition revenue.

Assumes changes to tuition policy and financial aid that allow tuition growth of 5% above the current tuition growth factor; limits College Bound Scholarships to 6 years, bases the maximum award for private schools to the average 4-year regional institution awards, and limits eligibility to 55% of the median family income for a full award and prorated awards up to 70% MFI beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.