Regents approve $6.7 billion CU budget for 2025-26

COLORADO SPRINGS – The CU Board of Regents approved a systemwide budget of $6.7 billion for the 2025-26 fiscal year. It reflects investments in the university’s people and mission, such as salary and benefit increases, institutional financial aid and deferred maintenance for facilities.

The board voted on the proposed budget, which increased 2.1% over the current fiscal year, during the regents’ June 4-5 meeting in Colorado Springs. Regents previously approved tuition, student fees and faculty and staff compensation at the board’s April meeting.

In his presentation to the board, Chad Marturano, vice president and chief financial officer, said the budget makes conservative assumptions about federal research funding, given the uncertain environment. Historically, CU sees an 8.7% annual increase in federal research awards; the approved budget assumes no increase this year. Marturano said CU remains well-positioned for future research awards in the realms of cyber, quantum and health care, among others.

Marturano also reviewed five-year enrollment projections at the campuses, including expected all-time peaks at CU Boulder and CU Anschutz in the coming year. Improved student retention and growth in resident student enrollment is fueling a 2.7% enrollment increase projected for fall 2025 at CU Boulder. The rise comes despite anticipated drops in international student enrollment, attributed to the uncertain political climate, with forecast drops in undergraduates (down 24.3%) and graduate students (down 14.7%). Other campuses are anticipating smaller drops.

Regents will hear updated fall enrollment figures for all of the campuses during the board’s Sept. 18-19 meeting at CU Anschutz.

As part of the meeting’s consent agenda, the Board of Regents gave approval to several new degrees at CU Denver, UCCS and CU Boulder. In a separate vote, the board also approved new professional master’s degrees in sustainable business and sustainable engineering at CU Boulder. Read more in CU Boulder Today and in UCCS News.

Last week’s meeting also included formal tributes to notable members of the CU community.

The board approved a resolution of appreciation for Alex Radz, who served as chair of the Intercampus Student Forum (ICSF) in 2024-25.

The board approved a resolution of appreciation for Alastair Norcross, who chaired Faculty Council the past two academic years.

The board approved a resolution of appreciation for Martin Wood, senior vice chancellor for university advancement at UCCS, who is retiring in August after 31 years at the campus.

The board approved a memorial resolution for Regent Emeritus Jerry Rutledge, who served on the board 1995-2007. He died in January at age 80.