Many students working on four-year degrees at Western programs on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas are going to see a decrease in their tuition bills thanks to the Washington State Legislature.
Western will receive $886,000 per year in continuing annual funding from the State Legislature to reduce tuition rates and enhance access for undergraduate students in most four-year degree programs offered by Western in Bremerton, Poulsbo and Port Angeles.
Until now, most of Western’s four-year degree programs offered on the peninsulas had not received state support, requiring higher tuition costs for students attending those programs than tuition rates paid by other Western undergraduates in state-supported degree programs.
Western on the Peninsulas programs that will see lower tuition are: Business Administration, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, and Education with endorsements in Elementary and Special Education. Tuition rates for resident undergraduate students in those academic programs will be lowered beginning this fall.
The state already subsidizes the Cybersecurity and Early Childhood Learning programs offered on the peninsulas.
“Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas are some of the most underserved areas in the state in terms of access to a four year degree. These investments help to provide location-based degrees at a price point that works and in a way that fits the busy lives and deep aspirations of residents,” said Robert Squires, vice provost of Outreach and Continuing Education at Western.