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BOULDER, Colo. — The University of Colorado is making it easier for students and their families to plan for the long term with a new four-year tuition guarantee.

Starting in the fall, all students can lock in their tuition and mandatory costs for four years.

“It’s predictability for families,” CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano said. “It’s taking the risk away for families and really putting the risk on us. They’re going to know what the tuition and fees are, then it’s up to us to manage those funds.”

The four-year tuition guarantee is something CU has had in place for nonresident students for the past 10 to 12 years.

Beginning in the fall semester, incoming freshman will see a one-time increase of up to 5 percent in their tuition and mandatory fees, which will then remain locked in for four years.

Resident sophomores and juniors in 2016-17 will also benefit from this new model. They will receive the one-time increase in tuition and mandatory fees that the freshmen will receive along with the guarantee of no change for four years.

Until now, tuition prices were set every spring. Increases ranged from just 2.9 percent in 2015-16 to nearly 30 percent in 2005-06.