Tuition Rises Again at Oregon and Idaho Schools

Two states in the Pacific Northwest approved new rounds of tuition increases this week, adding to a national pattern of rising costs at public universities heading into the fall 2026 semester.

In Oregon, all seven public universities raised tuition — the 12th consecutive school year they have done so.¹ In Idaho, the State Board of Education voted on April 28 to approve the largest tuition hikes the state's public universities have seen in three years.²

Oregon: 12 Consecutive Years of Increases

Oregon's seven public universities — including the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Western Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, and Eastern Oregon University — all approved tuition increases for the 2026-27 academic year.¹

The numbers vary by school, but the trend is consistent. University of Oregon's board voted unanimously to raise tuition 4.5% for new in-state undergraduate students.¹ Oregon State's increases are more significant:

• New incoming students: 6.25% increase
• Continuing students: 5.75% increase
• For a student taking 45 credits, that is $720 more per year — bringing the total to $13,395³

Oregon law gives the Higher Education Coordinating Commission authority to review any public-university tuition increase above 5% for resident undergraduates, and OSU's package was designed carefully around that threshold.

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University and system leaders cited enrollment volatility, inflation, rising labor costs, and budget shortfalls as the primary drivers. Portland State's enrollment, for context, has declined nearly 40% since 2017 — from more than 27,000 students to about 19,700 — which squeezes the revenue base and puts more pressure on tuition.¹

Over the last decade, Oregon resident undergraduate tuition has risen an average of 4.3% per year, adding roughly $430 to the annual bill each year. For non-resident students, next year's average increase is projected at $1,200 — above the $988 annual average of the past decade.¹

There is a partial offset at Oregon State. The university awarded $356 million in undergraduate financial aid during the 2025 fiscal year, a 13% increase over the prior year. The average aid award reached $14,683 — a 6.9% increase — which for many students exceeds the tuition hike.³

Idaho: Steepest Hikes in Three Years

Idaho's State Board of Education approved increases on April 28, 2026, covering all four of the state's public four-year institutions.² The increases range from 4.4% to 4.7% and represent Idaho's largest tuition hikes in three years.

University	Increase	Additional Annual Cost
University of Idaho	~4.5%	$425
Boise State University	~4.5%	$425
Idaho State University	4.7%	$425
Lewis-Clark State College	4.4%	$350

The board approved these increases even though Idaho's public universities absorbed a 4% budget reduction in fiscal year 2026, with a further 5% ongoing cut coming in fiscal year 2027. The increases are described as necessary but still fall short of covering the full funding gap from those cuts.²

If you are currently enrolled at an Idaho or Oregon public university, check your school's updated cost of attendance figures before finalizing your financial aid package for fall. Aid awards set earlier this year may need to be compared against the new tuition numbers.

What Students and Families Should Do Now

These increases are already approved. The question is how to respond.

Check your financial aid award letter carefully. If you received an aid offer before these tuition increases were finalized, the net price may have changed. Our guide to decoding your financial aid award letter explains what each line means and how to compare offers.

Consider a formal appeal. If your family's financial situation has changed — job loss, medical expenses, or a significant shift in income — you may qualify for more aid. Read our financial aid appeal letter guide to understand when and how to ask.

Search for scholarships that can fill the gap. A $425 increase at an Idaho school might sound small, but over four years that is $1,700 — a number a single scholarship can cover. Our college scholarships 2026 strategy guide has current sources organized by deadline. Also see scholarships for college for a broader list of options.

Understand your total debt picture. Before accepting loans to cover tuition increases, read how much student debt is too much — it gives specific benchmarks based on your expected starting salary by major.

If you are still deciding between schools and comparing costs, how to compare financial aid offers from different colleges and our recent financial aid offer comparison guide explain how to make an apples-to-apples comparison.

These increases are part of a national pattern documented in college tuition trends for fall 2026. Oregon and Idaho are not outliers — they are consistent with what states across the country are doing as public higher education grapples with flat state funding and enrollment declines.

Footnotes

1. OPB. (2026, April 25). Tuition to rise for 12th year in a row at Oregon's public universities. OPB. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/25/oregon-public-universities-tuition-rise/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

2. Idaho Education News. (2026, April 28). State Board OKs tuition increases — Idaho's largest in three years. Idaho Education News. https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/state-board-oks-tuition-increases-idahos-largest-in-three-years/ ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. Oregon State University Newsroom. (2026, March 13). Oregon State University Board of Trustees approve 2026-27 tuition rates. Oregon State University. https://news.oregonstate.edu/news/oregon-state-university-board-trustees-approve-2026-27-tuition-rates ↩ ↩²