Sacramento State University is facing backlash for its proposal to raise student fees in the face of statewide budget cuts. As reported by ABC 10, the total increase could amount to around $500 per student, to fund various campus services including health, instructional activities, and sports. The hike is said to make Sacramento State more competitive among its California State University counterparts, addressing a three-decade-long stagnation of fee adjustments and recent state-imposed budget restraints.

Despite the administration's assurances, students voiced their concerns during recent forums. "Necessarily having more money doesn’t create better education at all times. I feel like it’s the educators. It's already so expensive and struggles with students graduating and not being able to afford housing," Rielly Jones, a second-year engineering student, told ABC 10. 

The proposed fee increases are part of a response to a state budget deficit, according to Sacramento State University President Luke Wood, who cites a sensitivity analysis suggesting the increases wouldn't impact low-income and financial aid recipients. Wood participated in over 100 listening sessions, gathering student input to inform these proposals. Conversations with students have highlighted areas like health, sports, and instructional activities as potential beneficiaries of the fee increase, which, if approved, would become effective in fall 2025.

However, students from campus activist group Students for Quality Education argue that the fees—which would escalate annual costs by more than $2,700—pose additional financial barriers. Michael Lee-Chang, a junior, criticizes the administration's approach, stating, "It feels incredibly dishonest and disingenuous of what they're trying to do," as reported by The Sacramento Bee. 

Sacramento State’s fees are about average compared to other California State Universities. However, with a $1.5 billion budget gap and a 6.5% drop in enrollment from fall 2020 to fall 2023, the situation is tough. The recent 34% tuition hike might make these enrollment issues worse. "The tuition increase showed clearly that students can’t afford it," Lee-Chang told The Sacramento Bee.

President Wood has promised that this would be the sole fee increase for the next three years and has emphasized the importance of supporting student services, such as counseling and advising. Upcoming forums and a town hall are set to gather further feedback, and the Student Fee Advisory Committee will render a recommendation to the president after deliberating on the responses.