This year’s budget increase for Longwood University is at a record-setting low of 2.1 percent.
This is a great improvement for Longwood, as well as Virginia schools.
This change should reduce fees for the majority of Longwood undergraduate students.
“Any increase is something to swallow, but this is the lowest increase in tuition in over a decade,” said President W. Taylor Reveley IV.
He continued, “Most Virginia universities have been raising tuition by about 7.5 percent. This is a really good change in the opposite direction.”
Some students still feel like tuition should not be increased at all, but there are many good reasons to raise costs.
“Considering the range of services students enjoy at institutions like Longwood, there are good reasons college costs more today than in the past,” Marianne Radcliff, rector of the Board of Visitors, commented in a press release.
She continued, “But we are focused on the role of college – and Longwood – in society. Costs can’t continue to increase in the coming decades the way they have in recent decades.” Last year, the increase was at about 4.5 percent. Since Reveley has been in office, Longwood’s hard work and dedication to the budget has clearly shown, not only through words, but also through progress.
Reveley has the fullest intent on trying to keep the tuition parallel with the natural rate of inflation.
“Historically, Longwood’s tuition increase has been at a steep spike, but we can’t keep doing that or eventually it won’t be virtually affordable to anybody,” said Reveley.
This is really important to Reveley, and he intends on keeping it level so that tuition remains low.
According to a quote attributed to Reveley in a press release, “College is what energizes the American dream, and it is a moral issue that it remains affordable. The rising student loan debt of recent years is unsustainable by students and families.”
According to Reveley, budget and tuition costs have been the big topic of discussion amongst Virginia universities for quite some time now; colleges spend a lot of time trying to set tuition and fees every year.
“We are choosing a path that’s better for students, and for Longwood: to invest in ensuring that every student who comes to Longwood gets strong support to stay on track and graduate,” according to a quote attributed to Reveley in a press release.
“We’re really trying to commit to helping our beloved Lancers by being affordable, and we are really proud of this change that we have made,” said Reveley.
He continued, “I hope students will react well, in a logistical way. Longwood and most places have gotten into a habit of not deciding on tuition until late spring or summer, which makes it hard for families.”
Reveley hopes that since this year’s decision was made sooner, it will help students. The increase is pretty modest, so hopefully that will be helpful as well.
Longwood has also completed a $41 million capital campaign; this was extremely helpful in ensuring a low budget increase, according to Reveley. Enrollment is also extremely high leading to extra funding.
In-state undergraduate tuition in 2014-15 will be $11,580 per year, based on a full course load (30 Credits), while the out-of-state undergraduate students will be paying $25,350.
