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By 1 RANK Ml’STAt
Rappahannock News Writer
Students attending or about to enroll in Virginia's public universities and colleges this fall are in for some serious sticker shock.
Although the national annual inflation rate is only about two percent, tuition at all state-run schools of higher learning will rise about 19 percent on average.
The total for tuition and fees combined — the amount students will see on their college bill — will rise about 15 percent, since fees will increase at a slower pace.
The double-digit increase is the second of its kind in two years. Legislative cuts in higher education, put in place two years ago to help close the multi-billion-dollar gap in the state budget, have forced universities and colleges to hike tuition to make up for the loss of state funds.
In May, the George Mason University Board of Visitors voted to raise annual tuition and fees for fulltime in-state undergraduate , students from $4,416 (the amount in fall 2002) to $5,112 (the fall 2003 price). That's a $696 increase, or about 16 percent.
Out-of-state students will pay more than three times that amount, or J $14,952 per annum.
All tuition and fee increases take effect this fall.
Summer session rates have also gone up to $216 per credit for in-state undergraduates (an 8-percent increase) and to $619 per credit for out-of-state undergrads (a 5.3-percent rise).
Officials at Northern Virginia Community College, which maintains campuses in Annandale, Alexandria, Manassas, Loudoun and Woodbridge, also said tuition increases are forthcoming.
Starting in the fall, tuition and fees will rise to $63.58 per credit for fulltime students who live in the state. That’s an increase of
94.4%