Statistics show that by 2010, Washington State’s institutions of higher education will need an additional 26,000 undergraduate enrollment slots to compensate for Washington’s growing population. Furthermore, the past decade has seen drastic increase in the importance of receiving a four-year degree as a result for the increasing need for specialized employees within the state’s economy. Consequently, the state of Washington will have to provide not only enough enrollment slots to compensate for Washington’s population growth, but also for the overall increase in demand for higher education, if it hopes to maintain a rate of 61% percent of high school seniors seeking higher education.

The consequences of the surge in demand for higher education have not gone unnoticed at the University of Washington. Over the past decade, the University of Washington has seen a 12% percent decrease in its acceptance rates, making it a much more selective school (the same trends can be seen throughout Washington State’s higher education system).

Hoping to curb the problem of the increased demand for higher education, combined a constant supply, the recently approved 2005-2007 budget provides 7, 900 spots for students in Washington’s colleges (2-year and 4-year). Of these, 475 slots will be added for freshman starting in the fall of 2006, at the previously upper-level undergraduate oriented branch campuses of the University of Washington (UW Tacoma and UW Bothell) and Washington State University (WSU-Vancouver and WSU-Tri Cities).

Affordable Tuition Now advocates the immediate expansion of Washington State’s Higher Education system to compensate for the 26,000 enrollment slots which will be needed to maintain quality access to higher education for all of Washington State’s citizens. Ways of doing this include the expansion of branch campuses, creation of new 2-year and 4-year colleges, expansion of distance and online learning programs, and the addition of enrollment slots to current state colleges and universities.

Further questions regarding over-enrollment should be directed to Affordable Tuition Now member, Joel Murray.

Links
Key Facts About Higher Education in Washington (Higher Education Coordinating Board)