Virginia public college tuition increase smallest in a decade | News

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- It's getting more expensive to attend Virginia's public colleges and universities, but this year there's a new twist on the increase.

Tuition and fees are going up an average of 4.1% - the lowest rate increase in a decade.

During remarks made at a news conference touting the numbers, Gov. Bob McDonnell said he doesn't just oversee the higher education budget, he helps fund it.

"I happen to have a son [one of five McDonnell children] whose father has been writing checks to Virginia universities now for 11 years," said McDonnell, pointing to his son in the crowd.

The governor said the amount contained in those checks will still rise, but at a much lower rate than that which caused tuition to nearly double at Virginia's public colleges since 2002.

"That is an unacceptable trend. You cannot sustain that trend for these young people and look at the amount of debt that they are going into," McDonnell said.

So what does the percentage increase mean in actual dollars? VCU, for example, will cost $368 more for tuition and fees this year. UVA will cost $430 extra. Virginia Tech will run another $414. James Madison and Longwood Universities will each see increases of $360, according to figures provided by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

The increases were held in check, McDonnell said, due to an infusion of taxpayer money this year in the higher education budget. The General Assembly approved a $230 million investment in higher education over the next two years.

The increases do not reflect costs associated with room and board, or books.

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