George Mason University and Radford University both announced their tuition increase plans this week in response to state-level budget cuts.
In-state undergraduate tuition and fees at Mason's Fairfax campus will rise $624 to $4,416, a 16.4 percent increase. Out-of-state undergraduate tuition and fees will increase $1,020 to $13,716, an 8 percent boost.
In-state graduate students will pay an extra $420, raising tuition to $5,004 in a 9 percent increase.
Mason administrators emphasized that they hope the tuition increase will minimize the budget impact on academic quality.
"Initially the [budget] reductions were going to be impacting most areas, including the classroom, the library and computer labs as well as maintenance," said Donna Kidd, Mason's assistant vice president for budgeting.
Kidd added that Mason tries "to protect the classroom as much as we can."
Mason faces the largest net percentage reduction in state funding of all higher education institutions with a $14.7 million cut. Mason's 16-member Board of Visitors passed the tuition increase unanimously.
Despite the tuition increase, Mason still will face a $3.5 million shortfall next year.
Kidd said the shortfall will be primarily compensated with cuts in maintenance and administrative support services.
Mason's board said the tuition increase will place a burden on some students and is directing a portion of the new revenue to be set aside for aid packages.
"All along, our desire and concern was also to have some sort of pool of money to support financial aid," Kidd said. "If we have to raise tuition even more, part of our hope is to provide some additional financial aid to students."
Radford in-state undergraduates will experience a 6 percent increase overall, meaning a $145 hike to $1,754. Out-of-state students will experience a $454 increase to $8,018, also a 6 percent increase.
Radford faces a $2.7 million budget shortfall due to funding.
Like the University, Mason and Radford have imposed a hiring freeze to alleviate budget woes. Both schools anticipate losing employees through attrition, meaning that when employees leave their positions voluntarily they are not replaced.
Both Radford and Mason report that their students recognized the need for the increases.
The new state budget will not be finalized until next month.Mason plans to petition the state for budget reconsideration.
The University administration will make its official tuition proposal to the Board of Visitors on April 5.
Colette Sheehy, University vice president for management and budget, said University students should "unequivocally" expect a tuition increase, but emphasizes that even if the Board makes a decision it will not receive immediate approval.
"We always have a meeting with Student Council the Tuesday after the BOV meeting," Sheehy said.
She said the University will approve the tuition increase after the meeting.
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