RD167 - 2010-11 Tuition and Fees at Virginia’s State-Supported Colleges and Universities


Executive Summary:
The Commonwealth of Virginia, like the rest of the nation, has endured the effects of an historical economic recession for the past three years. While Virginia is perhaps no longer in recession, the still fragile economy is a major cause for concern. Shrinking tax revenues and the need to balance the state’s budget led the 2010 General Assembly to reduce state support for public higher education by more than $400 million or 27% by FY2012 when compared to the original FY2010 budgets. Higher education institutions are facing great pressure to increase tuition in an attempt to bolster the system from the erosion of state support and ensure the delivery of high quality instructional services expected of Virginia colleges and universities.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)—an economic stimulus package worth $787 billion created by the Congress and signed by the President in 2009—has helped Virginia offset the state budget shortfalls and save programs and services that might otherwise have been eliminated. The General Assembly allocated $75 million in FY2010 and $198 million in FY2011 of Virginia’s share of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, part of ARRA, to public institutions to help offset the general fund reductions and to mitigate the need to increase in-state tuition at the colleges and universities over these two years. Tuition and mandatory Educational and General (E&G) fees for in-state undergraduate students will increase by an average of 13.1% in FY2011. Including tuition and all mandatory fees, the increase will be 10.6% in FY2011.

Policymakers are calling for more college graduates so that the Commonwealth will be in a better position to compete successfully in the marketplace of the future. As the stimulus funding from the federal government disappears in FY2012, the following question will become more acute: will the Commonwealth have the resources and the will to become a full partner in this endeavor or will the de facto privatization of our public system of higher education continue?

This report focuses on tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates and provides a summary of: 1) board-approved tuition and fee increases for the 2010-11 academic year; 2) tuition and fee trends in Virginia over the past 25 years; 3) the cost-sharing relationship between the state and students; and 4) trends in tuition increases nationally. The appendices provide comparisons of changes in tuition and fees for student groups, including in-state undergraduate, out-of-state undergraduate, in-state graduate, out-of-state graduate, in-state first professional, and out-of-state first professional.

In order to assess trends in tuition and fees, it is important to understand higher education pricing. A student planning to attend a public college or university in Virginia can expect to pay the charges defined below:

1. Tuition and Mandatory E&G Fees: Mandatory student charges used to support instruction and related education activities included in the Education and General (E&G) program. E&G subprograms include instruction, research SCHEV 2010-11 Tuition and Fee Report 2 July 2010 and public service, academic support, student services, institutional support, and the operation and maintenance of physical plants.

2. Mandatory Non-E&G Fees: Mandatory student charges used to support non-instructional activities such as student health services, athletics, recreational activities, campus transportation, and capital debt service.

3. Tuition and All Fees: Sum of tuition, mandatory E&G fees, and mandatory non-E&G fees.

4. Room and Board: Optional charges used to support the dormitory and dining functions for students choosing to live on campus. Students living off campus are exempt from these charges.

5. Total Cost: The total cost to students and parents, excluding student financial aid. This total includes the sum of tuition, all mandatory fees, and room and board.