Apr 27, 2010

UVa, Virginia Tech Announce Tuition Increases While William & Mary Keeps Mum


Responding to continuing reductions in state support for higher education, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech have announced increases in tuition for the 2010-11 academic year. Possibly subject to minor tinkering from their respective Boards of Visitors, proposed fee schedules suggest significant increases in the total cost of attendance for in-state and out-of-state students at both institutions.

As part of an agenda largely devoted to school finances, the UVa Board of Visitors will be considering a 9.9 percent tuition hike for in-state students, keeping just below a previously predicted double-digit increase. Out-of-state students will be asked to pay an additional 6 percent, or $1,902 per academic year, bringing total tuition and fees to $33,574.

On top of tuition, UVa housing costs are expected to go up 4.9 percent for many student residences making the average rate of a double room $4,732 or $222 more than this year. According to a Finance Committee report, the increase will offset rising operating costs and help fund ongoing residence hall renovations. With tuition, fees, room and board as well as a 3.5 percent increase in meal plans, UVa’s total in-state cost of attendance will inch perilously close to the magic $20,000 per year mark.

In Blacksburg, Tech’s in-state undergrads will also pay nearly 10 percent more in tuition and fees, going from $8,735 to $9,589. The cost for out-of-state students will go up 6 percent, to $23,217 from $21,878. On-campus room and board will rise by 8 percent.

As state support has fallen off, both universities have increasingly turned to higher tuition and fees to make up the difference. UVa’s state allocation has been cut four times by a total of $36.8 million, or 25 percent, including a mid-year reduction of $4.7 million in the current fiscal year. To compensate, undergraduate tuition and fees have gone up about 84 percent and out-of-state tuition has increased by 44 percent, when adjusted for inflation.

UVa and Tech join other Virginia public institutions announcing tuition rate increases. Earlier in the month, Longwood and James Madison approved in-state rate changes amounting to 8.9 percent and 6.7 percent respectively. Old Dominion University will be increasing tuition and fees by 5.3 percent for Virginia students and 7 percent for those coming in from out-of-state. And in a recent announcement, Christopher Newport University will be going up by a hefty 12.1 percent for in-state students.

With the highest total in-state cost of attendance among Virginia’s public institutions, the College of William and Mary continues to remain silent about next year’s tuition. Announcements are expected in time for the Board of Visitors meeting scheduled for May 15, but not in time for the May 1st deadline by which admitted students must commit to attend.


1 comment:

  1. Well I was trying to decide between VA Tech and UVA, and I think this sealed the deal for me:
    http://college.mychances.net/tools/college-cross-admit-comparison.php?compare=University+of+Virginia&with=Virginia+Tech

    Since they're both going to jack up their prices anyways, I might as well go to the one with all the cred.

    ReplyDelete