Board of Visitors Votes to Freeze Base Undergraduate Tuition for 2021-22 Academic Year

In a meeting Tuesday afternoon, the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors voted to approve a proposal from the administration to hold base undergraduate tuition at its current rate for the 2021-22 academic year.

UVA President Jim Ryan had submitted the proposal, which was crafted in concert with student groups and took into account feedback from students and families, consultation with the Board of Visitors and thorough deliberation. 

Tuition and fees are set by the board.

Tuition rates for graduate and professional programs increased based on market demand, each school’s strategic priorities and the cost of instructional delivery under the approved proposal. Today’s vote does not affect previously approved upper-division tuition differentials, or the amount charged on top of base tuition for additional student services and programming. 

The board approved a $114 increase in the mandatory, non-educational and general fee for students. Most of that increase, $75, will address increases in Student Health volume in the areas of Counseling and Psychological Services, accessibility needs across Grounds and general medicine. This is the final year of a four-year plan to increase service offerings while the University moves forward with expanding Student Health facilities. The remaining $39 in the increase will fund needs in recreation facilities, Newcomb Hall and the Department of Athletics.

The pandemic has resulted in more than $100 million in additional expenses and lost revenue, which the University has managed through hiring and salary freezes, budget reductions, the reduction of all discretionary spending, and state and federal assistance.

Also Tuesday, the board approved a 3% increase in tuition and education and general fees for both in-state and out-of-state students at UVA’s College at Wise, in accordance with the UVA-Wise’s six-year plan, which had already been reviewed with the UVA-Wise College Board.

UVA offers the most generous financial aid program in the commonwealth, meeting 100% of undergraduates’ demonstrated financial need, and will continue to do so. The University offers admission to students without regard to their ability to pay the cost of their education – just one of two public universities in the country that makes that commitment. (The other school is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.)

In addition, UVA fully covers tuition and fees for students from Virginia families who earn less than $80,000 per year and have typical assets. The University pays full tuition, fees and room and board for in-state students coming from families earning less than $30,000 a year and having typical assets.

Need-based loans are capped at $1,000 per year for low-income Virginians and $4,500 per year for other in-state students with demonstrated need.

Last year, UVA provided approximately $132.5 million in need-based financial aid grants to undergraduate students through its financial aid program, Access UVA. Fifty-three percent of undergraduate students received some level of financial assistance, and 66% of UVA undergraduate students graduate with no debt.

UVA continues to be highly ranked by a range of publications in both value and quality, from U.S. News and World Report to Money Magazine, The Princeton Review and Forbes.

UVA also continues to be rated as one of the best values in higher education by both Kiplinger and Money magazine, among others.