In-State Undergraduate Tuition Frequently Asked Questions
On April 19, 2019, the University’s Board of Visitors announced that it would roll back a previously approved 2.9% increase in in-state undergraduate tuition for 2019-20 and hold base tuition for all in-state undergraduate students at the 2018-19 level for another year. This decision reflects the Board’s longstanding commitment to affordability and is made possible by the Virginia General Assembly’s allocation of additional funds to support higher education in 2019-20. Each year, the University seeks to prioritize accessibility and keep tuition increases at an affordable level, while also ensuring that UVA can meet 100 percent of students’ demonstrated financial need and support a high-quality educational experience for all students.
Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions.
- Why is in-state undergraduate tuition being changed from what was previously approved by the Board of Visitors?
The Virginia General Assembly included an item in its 2019-20 budget called the In-State Undergraduate Tuition Moderation Fund to provide additional funding for public higher education institutions that maintain 2018-19 levels for undergraduate tuition and mandatory Education & General (E&G) fees. This additional funding from the Commonwealth will offset the amount that the 2.9% increase approved by the Board in December 2018 would have provided for the 2019-20 operating budget.
- Why does this change only apply to tuition for in-state undergraduate students?
The General Assembly’s budget language specifies that the allocation is for in-state undergraduate students.
- Are changes being made to any of the required fees paid by undergraduate students?
Fees will remain consistent with the levels approved by the Board of Visitors in December 2018.
- Are there any changes to tuition differentials that undergraduates enrolled in certain schools pay in addition to the base tuition?
In Fall 2019, all in-state undergraduate students continuing in the same school and all entering in-state first year students will pay the same tuition rates as the prior year, regardless of the school of enrollment. Third year in-state students entering the upper division schools – the Batten School and the McIntire School – in Fall 2019 will pay an additional step increase, as previously approved by the Board of Visitors in December 2017 and reaffirmed in December 2018.
- How will this affect financial aid packages for undergraduate students?
With the revision and rollback of expected 2019-20 tuition, each in-state undergraduate student will now have a lower cost of attendance for 2019-20. Accordingly, this will reduce the demonstrated financial need of students by an equivalent amount. Student Financial Services will adjust any already awarded financial aid packages to reflect a lower cost of attendance, a lower demonstrated need, and, potentially, a decrease in need-based grants. The adjustment will be reflected in the official financial aid award for entering first-year and transfer students, which will be created and communicated in June, after the student confirms their intention to come to UVA by satisfying the tuition deposit requirement.
Returning undergraduate students will receive their official award based upon the revised tuition rates for 2019-2020 once Student Financial Services begins to award returning students in June.
Adjustments to financial aid as a result of this rollback will not result in any increase in loans. The University will continue to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need and to limit the amount of need-based loans for students with financial need.
- What portion of the University’s operating budget comes from tuition and fees each year? What about the state appropriation?
Tuition and fees make up approximately 33% of the Academic Division’s operating budget each year, and state appropriations represent approximately 8% of operating sources.
At UVA-Wise, tuition and fees make up approximately 22% of the operating budget and state appropriations represent approximately 45% of operating sources.
- What is the budgetary impact of not increasing in-state undergraduate tuition in 2019-20?
By agreeing to roll back a planned tuition increase and hold in-state undergraduate tuition at the 2018-19 level for another year, the University will receive an additional $5.52 million from the Commonwealth. The University’s College at Wise will receive an additional $235,000 from the state to maintain its 2018-19 in-state tuition for another year.
- How does the tuition rollback affect the pricing for the 2019-2020 Guaranteed Tuition Plan?
The 2019-20 Guaranteed Tuition Plan pricing as approved on April 19, 2019 reflects the revised Fall 2019 tuition rates.