PULLMAN, WA — The Washington State University Board of Regents approved the university’s fiscal year 2027 operating budget Monday, including strategic budget reductions, new academic investments and major capital projects on the Pullman and Spokane campuses.
University leaders said tuition revenue exceeded projections this fiscal year by nearly $5.9 million due to stable enrollment and a 3.3% tuition increase. WSU also expects an additional $5.8 million in tuition revenue for FY27.
Despite those gains, the university faces reduced state appropriations and uncertainty surrounding federal research funding. WSU expects indirect cost recovery tied to research funding to decline by about $2.33 million.
To address those challenges, WSU will implement an $11.675 million strategic budget reduction in FY27, representing 2.6% of nearly $450 million in eligible core funds. University officials said reductions will not be applied evenly across departments.
WSU President Betsy Cantwell said the budget reflects strategic decisions about the university’s future priorities.
The university also plans investments in employee compensation and benefits, academic and research priorities, and a systemwide student enrollment campaign.
WSU Athletics presented a balanced FY27 budget despite conference distribution revenue dropping from $27.6 million to $11.2 million during the Pac-12 relaunch. Earlier this year, regents approved $20 million in one-time funding support for athletics.
Regents also approved capital budget requests totaling approximately $165 million for the 2027-29 state biennium, including $50 million for the Integrated Science Building in Pullman.
Two additional capital projects were approved during the meeting. A $9.786 million Spokane Health Sciences renovation project will create collaborative teaching and simulation learning space, while a $13.5 million revitalization of the WSU Creamery will expand production capacity and replace aging infrastructure.
The Board of Regents will hold its annual retreat June 11-12 in Seattle.
