UC Mulls Large Tuition Hike

The University of California is considering proposals to raise student tuition by 8 percent, expand financial aid and reduce pension benefits for future employees.

UC President Mark Yudof offered the proposals in an open letter to California and discussed them on Monday. He said the tuition hike and pension changes are needed to help close a $1 billion budget shortfall.

The UC Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on the measures next week. If approved, annual tuition for California residents would increase by $822 to $11,124. About one -hird of the money would be set aside for student aid.

To offset the tuition hike, UC administrators have proposed expanding its financial aid program, called the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, so students from families earning less than $80,000 annually would not have to pay any tuition -- as long as they qualify for state and federal aid. The program currently covers families earning less than $70,000. The median income of San Diego families filing joint returns in 2008 was $70,457.