Radford University Board of Visitors establishes tuition and fees for 2016-17 academic year

Lowest percentage increase in 15 years

At its quarterly meeting held on campus today, the Radford University Board of Visitors (BOV) approved tuition and fees for the 2016-17 academic year, resulting in a 2.77% increase in tuition and required fees for in-state undergraduate students, the lowest percentage increase in 15 years.

The BOV considered a number of factors in its decision, including mandated and non-discretionary cost increases.

For the 2016-17 academic year the increase in tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students is $272 and $69 for out-of-state undergraduate students. The BOV also approved rate increases of $149 (2.99%) for room (standard double) and $116 (3%) for board (19 meal plan).

Radford University continues to provide a high quality education at a competitive price. A comparison of total price (tuition, mandatory fees, room and board) for the 2015-16 academic year shows Radford University to be 12.9% below the average cost for in-state undergraduate students and the third lowest among Virginia's four-year public institutions of higher education.

The significant infusion of new general fund resources to education through this General Assembly session mitigated the need to increase tuition any further. While the final state budget has not been officially adopted, Radford is expected to receive nearly $1.5 million in new funding in the first year of the biennium to improve access and affordability.

Virginia Delegate Joseph Yost (12th District), who earned both his bachelor's degree (2006) and master's degree (2008) from Radford University, extolled the Board and university administration for recognizing the importance of access to higher education for families. "As a proud double alumnus of Radford University representing our New River Valley, I am thankful for the opportunities that my education at RU has afforded me. However, I am also keenly aware of the expense that a college education represents for most families," said Del. Yost. "The university's commitment to providing Virginians an affordable quality college education means that the General Assembly's support of additional resources to assist with access will have an even greater impact for future college-bound students," he added.

"We are thankful for the assistance of Governor McAuliffe and the General Assembly this session. That support, combined with the diligent management of our resources within the university, means that Radford University continues to be able to offer a high quality, affordable higher education for more citizens of our Commonwealth," said Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle. "The Board of Visitors' decision represents a conservative, sufficient and prudent funding approach for Radford University for the 2016-17 academic year," added Kyle.