UCLA
Student Fee Advisory Committee
arch background

History of Student Service Fees

  • 1868: The Organic Act charters the University of California. It creates the UC Board of Regents as a governing body.

  • 1919: UCLA is founded.

  • 1868-1920: State fully funds the university.

  • 1921: California residents are now required to pay an "incidental fee" of $25 per year to cover services not related to instruction.

  • 1953: The Incidental Fee is increased to $42 and made uniform across the system.

  • 1956: Incidental fee is $84 per year.

  • 1959-1960: The California Master Plan, largely developed by Clark Kerr, supports keeping the UC system tuition-free for California residents but maintains that fees should be charged to cover costs coming from areas such as laboratories, health and athletics.

  • 1968: Incidental Fee is renamed "Registration Fee" and an explicit statement is made restricting use of the fee to financial aid and student services. Registration fee for all students is $300 per year.

  • 1970: In a symbolic move away from free tuition for residents, students must now pay an additional "educational fee."

  • 1972: Registration Fee spending is limited to student services.

  • 2010: Registration Fee is renamed "Student Services Fee." (Regents Policy 3101)

history of student service fees chart

This graph shows SSF levels over the years
Source: https://sa.ucla.edu/RO/Fees/Public/public-fees/