VCU news

By Brian McNeill

Virginia Commonwealth University will host a virtual forum for students at noon on Wednesday, April 27, that will provide information, answer questions and gather feedback about the university’s recommendation to increase tuition by 3% for the 2022-23 academic year.

VCU’s Office of Budget, Analysis and Financial Planning and the Division of Student Affairs will lead the session. To register, please visit here. Registration is required.

VCU has frozen undergraduate tuition for the past three years, but university officials say that is not sustainable, citing the rising costs of inflation, state salary increases, a need for more student financial aid, and a need to support faculty promotion, salaries and tenure.

“This tuition increase is needed to help VCU achieve excellence by paying our faculty competitive salaries, increasing graduation rates by growing academic support services and financial aid, improving online education, and most importantly enhancing the student experience,” said Karol Kain Gray, senior vice president and chief financial officer for VCU.

The university is proposing to dedicate the tuition increase toward new and sustained student financial aid, faculty and staff salary increases, and for inflation needs and expanded programs.

VCU is also recommending an increase of $145, from $3,024 to $3,169, in mandatory fees for in-state students and a $145 increase, from $3,714 to $3,859, for out-of-state students. The increase would be dedicated toward the university fee, health service, academic support services, VCU Libraries and technology. VCU’s mandatory fees remain among the lowest for Virginia colleges and universities.

Under the proposal, a typical in-state undergraduate student enrolled in 15 credits per semester would pay $15,641 in tuition and fees in the 2022-23 academic year. Out-of-state undergraduate students’ tuition and fees would be set at $37,587.

Colleges and universities across Virginia are considering similar tuition and fee increases for 2022-23.

The April 27 forum is the second virtual event to provide information about the upcoming potential changes to VCU’s tuition and fees. The first forum was held March 3.

In addition to the April 27 forum, students may also provide written comments about the tuition and budget proposal at the Board of Visitors’ open comment portal by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28.

In March, VCU presented to the Board of Visitors a range of tuition increases from 3% to 6% for undergraduate students, along with a 3% to 6% tuition increase for graduate students for fiscal year 2022-23. VCU officials say they will recommend a 3% increase to the Board of Visitors, which will consider the tuition and fees proposal at its May 13 meeting.