UVa prepares to increase tuition burden on out-of-state students

University of Virginia "Grounds"

Already the second most expensive public institution in the country for out-of-state students, the University of Virginia is preparing to increase the burden on nonresidents by as much as $2,200, or 6.2 percent.  Combined with fees already approved by the university’s Board of Visitors, out-of-state students could be paying $2,340 more, or an additional 5.9 percent, starting next fall.

Not including tuition differentials imposed by both the McIntire School of Commerce and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, students crossing state lines will be paying over $42,000 per year for the privilege of attending the University of Virginia.  And this doesn’t count close to $10,000 per year for room and board.

Ten years ago, students coming to Charlottesville from outside the Commonwealth paid $22,831.  Since then, almost $20,000 or about $2000 per year has been added to tuition for nonresidents—an 85 percent increase.

But even knowing they are paying top dollar and could be paying considerably more per year by the time they graduate, out-of-state students continue to apply and attend the University of Virginia in droves.  According to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the UVa class entering this fall included 35.1 percent students from out-of-state (second only to the College of William and Mary which enrolled 35.9 percent nonresidents).  And for fall of 2014, UVa received 22,028 applications from out-of-state students—up from 20,174 the previous year.

Clearly there is no shortage of students willing to pay what may be the highest tuition rates in the country for a public institution.

According to a release from the University, the Board of Visitors will meet on April 23 to set undergrad tuition rates for the 2014-15 academic year.  In addition to increasing the bills for nonresidents, the Board has proposed a 4.5 percent increase in tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergrads. 

If approved by the Board, the proposal would increase the total cost of attendance for a first-year Virginia resident by $949 to $27,417, which includes tuition and fees, room and board, and estimated expenses for books and travel.

The increased tuition rates come as UVa deals with continued criticism for replacing a portion of low-income student grants with loans, making financial aid packages far less desirable for many of the minority and first generation students UVa has tried to recruit to campus in recent years.