The William & Mary Board of Visitors will host a public hearing April 24, 2024, to provide an overview of the university’s budget and potential actions on undergraduate tuition and fees and to seek public comment on proposed increases to such tuition and fees.
Section 23.1-307 (D) of the Code of Virginia requires that prior to approving an increase in undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees, the boards of visitors of Virginia’s higher education institutions announce the range of increase under consideration, an explanation of the need for the increase and allow for public comment on the proposed increase.
The public hearing will take place in the Grimsley Board Room in Blow Memorial Hall, located at 262 Richmond Road in Williamsburg, Va., from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. The public hearing will take place in the Board’s usual meeting location and will be live streamed on the Board of Visitors webpage at www.wm.edu/bovmeeting. The hearing will include a presentation by the administration, and time for public comments. It comes in advance of any changes to current tuition rates and mandatory fees by the Board of Visitors.
In addition to participating in-person at the public hearing, members of the public can comment on the proposed tuition and fee ranges via an online form.
Since FY20 the board has held in-state undergraduate tuition increases to zero percent every year except FY24, demonstrating its commitment to both accessibility and affordability. This was achieved while establishing a university commitment to cover all tuition and fees for in-state Pell Grant recipients, increasing institutional support for financial aid, and advancing critical initiatives in support of William & Mary’s mission and strategic plan, Vision 2026. At its meeting on April 26, 2024, the Board will set tuition and fees for all undergraduate students, for both the 2024-25 academic year and the 2025-26 academic year. As part of those actions, the Board will consider an increase ranging from zero to 4% in undergraduate tuition, consistent with the university’s Six Year Plan, and an increase ranging from zero to 4% in mandatory fees. The goal of the Board and executive leadership is to prioritize predictability with a process that sets tuition and fee levels for a two-year period.
Revenue generated from tuition and fees — in combination with ongoing cost optimization and identifying new sources of revenue through a combination of innovative program offerings, partnerships with private industry, sponsorships, and fundraising — will be used to address personnel costs, including the university’s share of any state-mandated salary increases for employees or university commitments related to salaries, fringe and health benefit changes, need-based financial aid, investment in strategic institutional initiatives, unavoidable costs increases due to inflation, and contractually obligated cost escalations for university services. The exact uses will be determined in part by state budget actions yet to be finalized by the Governor and General Assembly.