Virginia public colleges, universities raise tuition and fees by 2.1%: SCHEV report

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Tuition and fees are increasing for students attending Virginia public colleges and universities for the 2025-26 academic year, with about a 2% rise from last year.

According to a new report from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) on Aug. 1, Virginia's public higher education institutions increased by 2.1% for the 2025-26 academic year from last year.

This news comes nearly three months after Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) announced a spike in tuition and fees by 2.5%, following a similar bump in pricing in May 2024.

Per the details from the annual Tuition & Fees Report, fees related to instruction and supported by the state increased by $206, a 2.1% increase for in-state undergraduate students at the system level.

Data from SCHEV

Help from Virginia for in-state undergraduate education remains the same -- on average, students will pay 42% of the costs, and the state will provide 58%.

SCHEV also said the Commonwealth's in-state undergraduate total tuition and fee charges for four-year institutions are higher than the national average, despite a historical decrease from the high of 48.6% during the 2019-20 academic year.

SCHEV added that total charges at baccalaureate institutions increased. All mandatory fees and room and board are $29,538 for the 2025-26 academic year, which SCHEV said is an increase of $898, or 3.1%, for in-state undergraduate students, per the report.