News Article

ASU System Board of Trustees Approves Budgets, Tuition for FY2026

MALVERN, Ark. — The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees today approved a combined $314.4 million operating budget, as well as tuition and fees, for 2025-2026 at its seven institutions.

System President Brendan Kelly said the budget reflects efforts to deploy every dollar to create value for students. The overall system budget is 5.3% higher than last year and reflects investments in retaining and recruiting employees while also addressing increased technology and deferred maintenance costs. Campuses kept tuition and fee increases minimal and remain competitive with peers across the state, he added.

“With flat state funding for higher education, we don’t have many revenue options to remain competitive and take care of ongoing campus needs,” Kelly said. “But rest assured we are actively looking for alternative, diversified revenue streams to help us minimize the financial investment requires of students and their families. Our chancellors and their teams continue to work hard to manage costs of delivering high-quality higher education experiences for our students.”

The Board of Trustees approved the following FY2026 budget and tuition plans for each ASU System institution:

Arkansas State University – a 6.9% increase in operating budget from $221.2 million to $236.4 million. Combined tuition and fees will increase 3.3% to $10,430 annually.

Henderson State University – a 5% increase in operating budget from $52.2 million to $54.8 million. Combined tuition and fees will increase 2.5% to $10,560 annually.

ASU-Beebe – a 1.2% increase in operating budget from $29.8 million to $30.1 million. Combined tuition and fees will increase 2.9% to $4,290 annually.

ASU-Mountain Home – a 1.8% increase in operating budget from $12 million to $12.2 million. Combined tuition and fees will increase 1.4% to $4,200 annually.

ASU-Newport – a 3.7% increase in operating budget from $19.1 million to $19.8 million. Combined tuition and fees will increase 3.6% to $4,290 annually.

ASU Mid-South in West Memphis – a 2.3% decrease in operating budget from $13.9 million to $13.6 million. Combined tuition and fees will increase 1.9% to $4,770 annually.

ASU Three Rivers in Malvern – a 2.7% increase in operating budget from $10.1 million to $10.3 million. Combined tuition and fees will increase 5.1% to $4,970 annually.

Trustees approved $81.8 million in capital improvement and deferred maintenance projects across the seven system institutions, which have identified some $475 million in total deferred maintenance needs. The operating budget for the ASU System Office will be considered at a special board meeting prior to July 1.

Kelly noted that Henderson faculty and staff took a 20% pay reduction and 40% retirement benefits cut in 2019 and have not had any restoration of those cuts – nor any raises – since that time. Positive enrollment trends are encouraging, and he and Henderson Chancellor Trey Berry are hopeful about being about to do more for its employees.

Trustee Paul Rowton of Harrisburg said he was “very excited” about enrollment projection reports from the campuses for the fall semester.

Trustees received an update on A-State Campus Queretaro in Mexico from Ricardo Gonzales, president of ASUCQ, and Belinda Salazar, director general of ASUCQ.

Salazar explained the creation of Elisia Education Hub, which will serve as a higher education hub now featuring three different institutions on the same campus – A-State, New York Institute of Technology and Texas State University – with a broader selection of degree programs. All degrees are recognized in both the United States and Mexico. The NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine also has a campus at A-State in Jonesboro.

The 280-acre Queretaro campus has 1,232 students and 80 faculty members, she said. With 17 degree programs, 66% of students graduate with a job. The campus has 303 students participating in athletics programs. Elisia is projecting 19% enrollment growth this fall and has a student retention rate of 91.7%.

ASU Three Rivers Chancellor Steve Rook updated trustees on construction of the new $8.5 million nursing building on the Malvern campus, which will open in January. ASU Three Rivers has also led the renovation of the historic Ritz Theatre in downtown Malvern with $5.5 million in grant funding from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council and private contributions, and is in early construction phases for an additional $2.8 million workforce training facility.

Kelly outlined changes to the ASU System executive team, including:

The retirements of Julie Bates, executive vice president for finance and administration since 2011; Pam Kail, executive assistant to the system president since 1991; and Tracie Blake, office manager and research assistant since 1998. Bates will assume the part-time position of chief financial adviser, and Kail will continue a part-time role as special advisor to the president serving as board liaison and secretary of the ASU System Foundation Inc. board of directors.

The promotions of Brad Phelps to senior vice president and general counsel, Landen Crancer to associate vice president for finance and administration and chief of staff, and Dr. Lori Pope as interim vice president for human resources. Additionally, Megan Gross has joined the staff as executive assistant to the president.

In other business, the board approved:

• The designation of Trustee Emeritus upon Christy Clark of Little Rock, who served on the Board of Trustees from 2018 until 2025 and served as chair twice. 

• Henderson State to name the Caver College of Aviation, Science, and Nursing in honor of Dr. Troy Caver, a 1962 Henderson graduate who later became a lieutenant colonel working for the chief of staff of the U.S. Army. Kelly described the “remarkable, transformational gift” as a “phoenix from ashes” moment for Henderson as it continues to recover from previous financial challenges. 

• Henderson State to name the James Wage Player Development Center in honor of the late former Henderson baseball player and avid supporter of the Reddie athletics program. 

• ASU-Beebe to add Quitman High School as a location of instruction for its Regional Career Center’s concurrent credit programming, which is offered to high school juniors and seniors in Cleburne County and surrounding areas.
• Room and board rates at A-State, Henderson and ASU-Beebe for 2025-2026. 
  
  
• A-State to combine the Department of Clinical Lab Sciences with the Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences to become the Department of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences to allow for more efficient use of resources.
  
  
• ASU-Beebe to offer a Certificate of Proficiency in Advanced Emergency Technician and a Certificate of Proficiency and a Technical Certificate in Construction Trade Technology.