Effects of cost sharing on University students’ academic performance at Teofilo Kisanji University in Mbeya City, Tanzania

In the early 1990s, Tanzania re-introduced a policy of students’ university education cost-sharing, aimed at reducing financial support in higher learning institutions. However, little information is available on effects of cost sharing on academic performance. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of cost sharing on university students’ academic performance. The study used experimental approach in which stratified random and purposive sampling plans were used to select units for study. Cross sectional data in which a sample of 105 University students and Lecturers from Teofilo Kisanji University and parents were interviewed. Both, open and closed questionnaires were used to collect data through interview schedule and descriptive analysis approach was used. The present study findings showed that cost sharing in universities had negative effect on academic performance. Therefore, it was recommended that, the government should finance or subsidize university tuition fees for those students engaged in higher learning institutions.