On November 14, the Washington State University Board of Regents made several decisions regarding university funding and infrastructure. They approved a tuition increase of 3.3% for the 2026-27 academic year, which means a rise of $385 annually for in-state undergraduate students and $445 for graduate students.

Despite the tuition hike, data shows that around 36% of in-state undergraduate students qualify for scholarships or financial aid that covers their tuition costs, an increase from 31% a decade ago. Additionally, over 56% of in-state undergraduates graduate without loan debt, compared to 29.6% in 2014.

The board also sanctioned a $12 million budget for improvements to Gesa Field, which will include a new videoboard, sound system, and LED lighting. This project is completely funded by private donations, and WSU Athletics aims to secure an additional $2 million in contributions by December 15 to meet its $8 million target necessary for completing these upgrades before the 2026 football season.

In other developments, the regents approved transferring the Department of Social Work from the College of Nursing to the College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences. They also approved plans for renovations to the Southside Dining and Market rotunda on the Pullman campus. Additionally, the board received a report on an economic impact study revealing that WSU’s operations contribute approximately $4 billion to the economy, equating to $12 generated for every $1 in state funding.