Representatives of the California State University Board of Trustees recently announced at the California State Student Association conference at Humboldt State University that they will be voting on a proposed student fee increase at the upcoming Bakersfield convention today.

Since 2003, SF State has seen tuition rise by $324, from $1,240.00 in Fall 2003 to $1,564.00 in Fall 2005.

SF State international business major Elizabeth Navarro, 20, said she is opposed to the fee increase.

“That’s not fair for them to make the decision, not knowing how difficult it is to go to school and be stable,” Navarro said.

In a letter sent out over the summer, SF State informed students of the 2005-06 tuition increase. But some students still found themselves in shock this semester.

“We have to pay for books, gas, tuition, car insurance and family. It’s very stressful,” Navarro said.

The news comes as the College Board released two annual reports about student aid data and the social and economical impact of higher education on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The Trends in College Pricing 2005 and Trends in Student Aid 2005 reports reveal tuition has continued to increase for public, private and community colleges over the last five years, stating the 7.1 percent increase is well above the inflation rate.

The good news is the 2005-06 academic year has seen the slowest increase since 2001.

The College Board, a nonprofit group which runs the SAT exam, did not give reasons as to why tuition has been on the rise.

Another trend the College Board report touched on was a 3 percent increase of financial aid per student, with a trend of grant aid being distributed to students in the higher income bracket, rather than to low-income students.

“They’re making higher education less accessible to people who are having a hard time already finding ways to pay for college,” says Terri Soto, 20, a health education major. “In the long run, it’ll effect society negatively.”

The College Board suggests the shift in grant aid distribution is due to an increase of grants given based on academic achievement instead of financial needs of a student.

However, at SF State grants are given to students in exceptional financial need and do not need to repaid, according to the SF State Financial Aid website. At SF State 65 percent of undergraduates who apply for aid receive need-based grants, with nine percent of all undergraduates receiving merit-based aid.

Political science major Claudia Mercado, 20, agrees that grants should be awarded based on academic achievement.

“If school is your priority and if you’re getting free money, you should be working for it,” said Mercado. “It should remain a combination of merit and financial need.”

At SF State 49 percent of students receive some form of financial aid, with a total of 39 percent of undergraduates having their financial needs fully met. Of those who receive financial aid, 71 percent receive grants or scholarships and 69 percent receive loans.