The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) annually provides a tuition and fees report based on charges approved by boards of visitors at Virginia public institutions. The report includes a list of tuition and fee charges to in-state and out-of-state students and for undergraduate and graduate programs. It also provides trends over time, comparisons to other states and highlights affordable options students can choose to reduce costs.

The requirements for the report are outlined in the Appropriation Act and are provided to the Governor and the chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees (Item 4-2.01.b.4.b).

The following are key findings from the 2026-27 Tuition and Fees Report.

• Tuition and mandatory educational and general (E&G) fees (those fees related to instruction and supported by the state) increased by 3.2% ($320) for in-state undergraduate students at the system level.

• Mandatory non-educational and general fees (those fees related to non-instructional or “auxiliary" activities) increased by 3.9% ($190).

• Athletic fees represented the largest share of mandatory non-educational and general fees, averaging 36.2% of these fees, or an average of $1,967 per student, an average increase of 5.5%.

• The average tuition and all mandatory fees for in-state undergraduates is $15,356, a 3.4% ($510) increase from the prior year.

• Room and board charges averaged $14,357 at baccalaureate institutions, an increase of 4.4% ($607).

• Total charges at baccalaureate institutions — the average sum of tuition, all mandatory fees and room and board — are $30,759 for the 2026-27 academic year, an increase of 3.9% ($1,142) for in-state undergraduate students.

• It is estimated that Virginia undergraduate students on average paid 42% of the costs related to education, while the state provided 58% in 2025-26. This percentage is below Virginia’s cost-share policy of covering 67% of costs.

• The total charges for in-state undergraduates as a percentage of per-capita disposable income remain higher than the national average at 41.6% at baccalaureate institutions.

• Students who complete an associate degree at a community college and transfer to a baccalaureate institution can save an average of $22,637 of the cost of a bachelor’s degree, if completed within four years. Other affordable options exist for students and families, including need-based financial aid that reduces the sticker price and access to pathway programs that begin in high school. More information on affordable pathways can be found in the section beginning on page 23.