COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTW) — Coastal Carolina University leaders on Tuesday asked state House budget writers to give them millions more than what Gov. Henry McMaster is recommending to help keep tuition affordable.
In his 2024-25 executive budget, McMaster suggested $1.18 million to CCU for tuition mitigation. But Alan West, the school’s vice president of finance, asked a House Ways and Means Committee to include $4.7 million for tuition relief in the budget to be voted on later this year.
The ask comes on the heels of another historic enrollment cycle at CCU, which welcomed 2,275 freshmen in the fall 2023 semester — the third straight year it’s broken its own record.
CCU’s in-state tuition is 5.1% below South Carolina’s average, according to data presented by the school on Tuesday.
In November, CCU said it would start offering free tuition to qualifying students through its “Coastal Commitment” program.
That initiative guarantees admission and free tuition to South Carolina students who graduate in the top 10% of their high school class and whose families have an annual income of less than $80,000.