Contact:
Bob Spieldenner
(804) 225-2628
bobspieldenner@schev.edu

August 1, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHMOND — Tuition and mandatory fees for the 2026-27 academic year at Virginia’s public higher education institutions increased by 3.2% from last year for all in-state undergraduate students, according to the annual Tuition & Fees Report released today by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). 

The following are key findings from the 2026-27 Tuition and Fees Report for in-state undergraduates.

• Institutions increased tuition and instructional fees. Tuition and mandatory educational and general (E&G) fees (those fees related to instruction and supported by the state) increased by $320 (3.2%) for in-state undergraduate students at the system level.

• Institutional fees for intercollegiate athletics rose by an average of 5.5% over the prior year, averaging $1,967 per student per year. On average, athletic fees increased at a faster rate than almost any other category of fee, growing by 5.5% compared with overall mandatory non-educational fee growth of 3.9%.

• State support for in-state undergraduate education remains unchanged. Virginia undergraduate students on average will pay 42% of the costs related to education while the state will provide 58%. This percentage is unchanged from last year and remains below Virginia’s cost-share policy of covering 67% of costs.

• Virginia’s in-state undergraduate total tuition and fee charges for four-year institutions as a percentage of per-capita disposable income remain higher than the national average. Virginia’s rate is 41.6% compared to 38.6% nationally, though it has decreased from the historical high of 48.6% in 2019-20.

• Total charges at baccalaureate institutions increased. The average sum of tuition, all mandatory fees, and room and board are $30,759 for the 2026-27 academic year, an increase of $1,142 (3.9%) for in-state undergraduate students.

• Affordable options to reduce the cost of higher education are available, such as through transfer and financial aid. For example, students who complete an associate degree at a community college first and transfer to a baccalaureate institution can save an average of $22,637 of the tuition cost of a bachelor’s degree. In the 2026 legislative session, the Governor and General Assembly provided an additional $55 million annually in FY 2027 and FY 2028 for institutions to maintain affordability; $138 million for institution-specific funding and $65 million in financial aid to support students.

The full report and all SCHEV reports are available at schev.edu/reports.

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The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia is the state’s coordinating agency for higher education. Media resources including news advisories, logos and releases are available at www.schev.edu/media