The Board of Visitors Finance Committee unanimously approved an increase in tuition, dining rates and other mandatory fees for the 2026-27 school year April 16. The Finance Committee is responsible for the University’s financial affairs and business operations, and the Committee manages the budget, tuition and student fees.
At the meeting, Jennifer Wagner Davis, executive vice president and chief operating officer, explained the reasons behind the raise in tuition and fees. Specifically, Davis cited salary increases for professors resulting from legislation passed by the General Assembly as a key factor in the tuition increase. She also cited the minimum wage increase, collective bargaining and inflation as contributing factors.
On average, the tuition rate for all undergraduate schools at the University is set to increase by 3.6 percent for both in-state and out-of-state students. Some additional changes include a $152 increase in mandatory fees — $4 to address increasing education and general needs and $148 to address increasing non-E&G needs. Some non-E&G needs include the growing volume of students using counseling and psychological services and expanding access to mental health services. The Committee also approved a 4.8 percent average increase in meal plan costs and a 5 percent increase in the cost of double-room housing…