Higher education costs

AN ACT Relating to modifying students' share of the education 1
costs at institutions of higher education; amending RCW 28B.15.067; 2
reenacting and amending RCW 28B.92.200 and 43.88C.010; adding a new 3
section to chapter 28B.92 RCW; repealing RCW 28B.92.205; and 4
providing effective dates. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
Sec. 1. RCW 28B.15.067 and 2023 c 9 s 1 are each amended to read 7
as follows: 8
(1) Tuition fees shall be established under the provisions of 9
this chapter. 10
(2)(a) The maximum increase in tuition operating fees for 11
resident undergraduates at institutions of higher education as 12
defined in RCW 28B.10.016((, excluding applied baccalaureate degrees 13
as defined in RCW 28B.50.030,)) shall be calculated by the office of 14
financial management and transmitted to the institutions of higher 15
education by October 1st of each year for the following academic 16
year. ((Tuition)) Except as provided in (b) and (c) of this 17
subsection, tuition operating fees for resident undergraduates at 18
institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016((, 19
excluding applied baccalaureate degrees as defined in RCW 20
28B.50.030,)) may increase by no more than the average annual 21
S-1958.4
SENATE BILL 5785
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senator Robinson
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percentage growth rate in the median hourly wage for Washington as 1
the wage is determined by the federal bureau of labor statistics and 2
calculated based on the previous 14 years prior to the transmittal 3
date by the office of financial management. 4
(b) In the 2026-27 academic year, the tuition operating fees for 5
resident undergraduates at the community and technical colleges may 6
increase by no more than five percent above the tuition growth factor 7
calculated by the office of financial management in (a) of this 8
subsection. Within the limitations of this subsection, tuition 9
operating fees may only increase to the extent necessary to operate 10
within the appropriations from the general fund and related funds, as 11
defined in RCW 43.88.055, for fiscal year 2027 in the 2025-2027 12
omnibus operating appropriations act.13
(c) In the 2026-27 academic year, the tuition operating fees for 14
resident undergraduates at the state universities, regional 15
universities, and The Evergreen State College may increase by no more 16
than five percent above the tuition growth factor calculated by the 17
office of financial management in (a) of this subsection. Within the 18
limitations of this subsection, tuition operating fees may only 19
increase to the extent necessary to support employee compensation 20
costs and to operate within the appropriations from the general fund 21
and related funds, as defined in RCW 43.88.055, for fiscal year 2027 22
in the 2025-2027 omnibus operating appropriations act.23
(3) ((The)) (a) Except as provided in (b) and (c) of this 24
subsection, the governing boards of the state universities, regional 25
universities, and The Evergreen State College; and the state board 26
for community and technical colleges may reduce or increase full-time 27
tuition fees for all students other than resident undergraduates, 28
including nonresident students, summer school students, and students 29
in other self-supporting degree programs. Percentage increases in 30
full-time tuition may exceed the fiscal growth factor. Except during 31
the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the state board for community and 32
technical colleges may pilot or institute differential tuition 33
models. The board may define scale, scope, and rationale for the 34
models. 35
(b) In the 2026-27 academic year, the tuition operating fees for 36
nonresident undergraduates at the community and technical colleges 37
may increase to the extent necessary to operate within the 38
appropriations from the general fund and related funds, as defined in 39
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RCW 43.88.055, for fiscal year 2027 in the 2025-2027 omnibus 1
operating appropriations act. 2
(c) In the 2026-27 academic year, the tuition operating fees for 3
nonresident undergraduates at the state universities, regional 4
universities, and The Evergreen State College may increase to the 5
extent necessary to support employee compensation costs and to 6
operate within the appropriations from the general fund and related 7
funds, as defined in RCW 43.88.055, for fiscal year 2027 in the 8
2025-2027 omnibus operating appropriations act.9
(4) The tuition fees established under this chapter shall not 10
apply to high school students enrolling in participating institutions 11
of higher education under RCW 28A.600.300 through 28A.600.400.12
(5)(a) The tuition fees established under this chapter shall not 13
apply to eligible students enrolling in a dropout reengagement 14
program through an interlocal agreement between a school district and 15
a community or technical college under RCW 28A.175.100 through 16
28A.175.110. 17
(b) The tuition fees established under this chapter shall not 18
apply to students incarcerated with the department of corrections who 19
are participating in credit-eligible postsecondary education courses 20
and degree programs when the program expenses are funded by 21
nontuition resources such as, but not limited to, grants, contracts, 22
and donations. 23
(6) As a result of any changes in tuition under section 3, 24
chapter 36, Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess., the governing boards of the 25
state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen 26
State College shall not reduce resident undergraduate enrollment 27
below the 2014-15 academic year levels. 28
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.92 29
RCW to read as follows: 30
(1) In addition to other eligibility requirements outlined in 31
this chapter, students whose annual household income is at or below 32
65 percent of the annual state median income are eligible to receive 33
the Washington college grant. The amount a student may receive of the 34
Washington college grant is dependent on the household's annual 35
income, adjusted for household size, and the difference in the 36
household's annual share of higher education costs provided in this 37
section and the maximum Washington college grant. Beginning with 38
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academic year 2026-27, the office must calculate a household's annual 1
share of higher education costs as follows: 2
3
4
If the household's annual income, adjusted for
household size, is:
Then the household's annual share of higher education costs, based
on a household of two, are:
5 Below 25 percent of the state median income $0
6
7
At or above 25 percent and below 35 percent of the
state median income
25 percent of the state median income for a household of two,
multiplied by 5 percent
8
9
At or above 35 percent and below 45 percent of the
state median income
35 percent of the state median income for a household of two,
multiplied by 5.5 percent
10
11
At or above 45 percent and below 55 percent of the
state median income
45 percent of the state median income for a household of two,
multiplied by 6 percent
12
13
At or above 55 percent and at or below 65 percent
of the state median income
55 percent of the state median income for a household of two,
multiplied by 6.5 percent
(2) If the household's calculated share exceeds the maximum 14
Washington college grant award, no award may be provided.15
Sec. 3. RCW 28B.92.200 and 2024 c 323 s 1 and 2024 c 116 s 1 are 16
each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 17
(1) The Washington college grant program is created to provide a 18
statewide free college program for eligible participants and greater 19
access to postsecondary education for Washington residents. The 20
Washington college grant program is intended to increase the number 21
of high school graduates and adults that can attain a postsecondary 22
credential and provide them with the qualifications needed to compete 23
for job opportunities in Washington. 24
(2) The office shall implement and administer the Washington 25
college grant program and is authorized to establish rules necessary 26
for implementation of the program. 27
(3) The legislature shall appropriate funding for the Washington 28
college grant program. Allocations must be made on the basis of 29
estimated eligible participants enrolled in eligible institutions of 30
higher education or apprenticeship programs. All eligible students 31
are entitled to a Washington college grant beginning in academic year 32
2020-21. 33
(4) The office shall award Washington college grants to all 34
eligible students beginning in academic year 2020-21.35
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(5) To be eligible for the Washington college grant, students 1
must meet the following requirements: 2
(a)(i) Demonstrate financial need ((under RCW 28B.92.205)) by 3
establishing that their household income qualifies under section 2 of 4
this act; 5
(ii) Receive one or more of the following types of public 6
assistance: 7
(A) Aged, blind, or disabled assistance benefits under chapter 8
74.62 RCW; 9
(B) Essential needs and housing support program benefits under 10
RCW 43.185C.220; or 11
(C) Pregnant women assistance program financial grants under RCW 12
74.62.030; ((or))13
(iii) Be a Washington high school student in the 10th, 11th, or 14
12th grade whose parent or legal guardian is receiving one or more of 15
the types of public assistance listed in (a)(ii) of this subsection 16
and have received a certificate confirming eligibility from the 17
office in accordance with RCW 28B.92.225; or 18
(iv) Beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, be a Washington high 19
school student in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade who is a member of an 20
assistance unit receiving benefits under the Washington basic food 21
program in chapter 74.04 RCW or the Washington food assistance 22
program established under RCW 74.08A.120; 23
(b)(i) Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least three 24
quarter credits or the equivalent semester credits at an institution 25
of higher education in Washington as defined in RCW 28B.92.030; or26
(ii) Be enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program approved 27
under chapter 49.04 RCW; 28
(c) Be a resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2) (a) 29
through (e); 30
(d) File an annual application for financial aid as approved by 31
the office; and 32
(e) Must not have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from a 33
postsecondary institution. 34
(6) Washington college grant eligibility may not extend beyond 35
six years or 150 percent of the published length of the program in 36
which the student is enrolled or the credit or clock-hour equivalent.37
(7) Institutional aid administrators shall determine whether a 38
student eligible for the Washington college grant in a given academic 39
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year may remain eligible for the ensuing year if the student's family 1
income increases by no more than three percent. 2
(8) Qualifications for receipt and renewal include maintaining 3
satisfactory academic progress toward completion of an eligible 4
program as determined by the office and established in rule.5
(9) Should a recipient terminate his or her enrollment for any 6
reason during the academic year, the unused portion of the grant 7
shall be returned to the state educational grant fund by the 8
institution of higher education according to the institution of 9
higher education's policy for issuing refunds, except as provided in 10
RCW 28B.92.070. 11
(10) An eligible student enrolled on a part-time basis shall 12
receive a prorated portion of the Washington college grant for any 13
academic period in which he or she is enrolled on a part-time basis.14
(11) The Washington college grant is intended to be used to meet 15
the costs of postsecondary education for students with financial 16
need. The student shall be awarded all need-based financial aid for 17
which the student qualifies as determined by the institution.18
(12) Students and participating institutions of higher education 19
shall comply with all the rules adopted by the council for the 20
administration of this chapter. 21
Sec. 4. RCW 43.88C.010 and 2023 c 420 s 4, 2023 c 345 s 1, and 22
2023 c 244 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:23
(1) The caseload forecast council is hereby created. The council 24
shall consist of two individuals appointed by the governor and four 25
individuals, one of whom is appointed by the chairperson of each of 26
the two largest political caucuses in the senate and house of 27
representatives. The chair of the council shall be selected from 28
among the four caucus appointees. The council may select such other 29
officers as the members deem necessary. 30
(2) The council shall employ a caseload forecast supervisor to 31
supervise the preparation of all caseload forecasts. As used in this 32
chapter, "supervisor" means the caseload forecast supervisor.33
(3) Approval by an affirmative vote of at least five members of 34
the council is required for any decisions regarding employment of the 35
supervisor. Employment of the supervisor shall terminate after each 36
term of three years. At the end of the first year of each three-year 37
term the council shall consider extension of the supervisor's term by 38
one year. The council may fix the compensation of the supervisor. The 39
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supervisor shall employ staff sufficient to accomplish the purposes 1
of this section. 2
(4) The caseload forecast council shall oversee the preparation 3
of and approve, by an affirmative vote of at least four members, the 4
official state caseload forecasts prepared under RCW 43.88C.020. If 5
the council is unable to approve a forecast before a date required in 6
RCW 43.88C.020, the supervisor shall submit the forecast without 7
approval and the forecast shall have the same effect as if approved 8
by the council. 9
(5) A councilmember who does not cast an affirmative vote for 10
approval of the official caseload forecast may request, and the 11
supervisor shall provide, an alternative forecast based on 12
assumptions specified by the member. 13
(6) Members of the caseload forecast council shall serve without 14
additional compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses 15
in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 while attending sessions of the 16
council or on official business authorized by the council. 17
Nonlegislative members of the council shall be reimbursed for travel 18
expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.19
(7) "Caseload," as used in this chapter, means:20
(a) The number of persons expected to meet entitlement 21
requirements and require the services of public assistance programs, 22
state correctional institutions, state correctional noninstitutional 23
supervision, state institutions for juvenile offenders, the common 24
school system, long-term care, medical assistance, foster care, and 25
adoption support; 26
(b) The number of students who are eligible for the Washington 27
college bound scholarship program and are expected to attend an 28
institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.92.030;29
(c) The number of students who are eligible for the Washington 30
college grant program under RCW 28B.92.200 and ((28B.92.205)) section 31
2 of this act and are expected to attend an institution of higher 32
education as defined in RCW 28B.92.030; 33
(d) The number of children who are eligible, as defined in RCW 34
43.216.505, to participate in, and the number of children actually 35
served by, the early childhood education and assistance program; and36
(e) Beginning with the first official forecast after July 23, 37
2023, the number of people eligible for the working families' tax 38
credit under RCW 82.08.0206. The total number of people eligible for 39
the working families' tax credit should include: 40
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(i) The number of eligible people with no qualifying children;1
(ii) The number of eligible people with one qualifying child;2
(iii) The number of eligible people with two qualifying children; 3
and 4
(iv) The number of eligible people with three or more qualifying 5
children. 6
(8) The caseload forecast council shall forecast the temporary 7
assistance for needy families and the working connections child care 8
programs as a courtesy. 9
(9) By January 1, 2023, the caseload forecast council shall 10
present the number of individuals who are assessed as eligible for 11
and have requested a service through the individual and family 12
services waiver and the basic plus waiver administered by the 13
developmental disabilities administration as a courtesy. The caseload 14
forecast council shall be presented with the service request list as 15
defined in RCW 71A.10.020 to aid in development of this information.16
(10) Beginning with the official forecast submitted in November 17
2022 and subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 18
specific purpose, the caseload forecast council shall forecast the 19
number of individuals who are assessed as eligible for and have 20
requested supported living services, a service through the core 21
waiver, an individual and family services waiver, and the basic plus 22
waiver administered by the developmental disabilities administration 23
as a courtesy. The caseload forecast council shall be presented with 24
the service request list as defined in RCW 71A.10.020 to aid in 25
development of this information. 26
(11) As a courtesy, beginning with the official forecast 27
submitted in November 2022, the caseload forecast council shall 28
forecast the number of individuals who are expected to reside in 29
state-operated living alternatives administered by the developmental 30
disabilities administration. 31
(12) The caseload forecast council shall forecast youth 32
participating in the extended foster care program pursuant to RCW 33
74.13.031 separately from other children who are residing in foster 34
care and who are under eighteen years of age. 35
(13) The caseload forecast council shall forecast the number of 36
youth expected to receive behavioral rehabilitation services while 37
involved in the foster care system and the number of screened in 38
reports of child abuse or neglect. 39
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(14) The caseload forecast council shall forecast the number of 1
individuals who are functionally and financially eligible for 2
medicaid waiver services administered by the developmental 3
disabilities administration who also meet the criteria outlined in 4
RCW 71A.12.370 and are expected to utilize a medicaid waiver service.5
(15) The caseload forecast council shall forecast eligible 6
children participating in the transition to kindergarten program 7
under RCW 28A.300.072. 8
(16) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the 9
definitions provided in RCW 43.88.020 apply to this chapter.10
(17) During the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, and beginning with the 11
November 2021 forecast, the caseload forecast council shall produce 12
an unofficial forecast of the long-term caseload for juvenile 13
rehabilitation as a courtesy. 14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. RCW 28B.92.205 (Washington college grant 15
program—Financial need) and 2023 c 475 s 923, 2022 c 297 s 949, & 16
2019 c 406 s 20, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each 17
repealed, effective September 1, 2026.18
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 2 through 4 of this act take 19
effect July 1, 2026.20
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