The George Washington University Board of Trustees today voted to continue to contain the cost of attendance, guaranteeing no tuition increase for returning undergraduate students and limiting the increase in the overall cost of attendance for incoming undergraduate students to no more than 3.3 percent. This is the sixth consecutive year that the university has held increases in the overall cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room and board) to around 3 percent, which has placed GW’s percentage increase below those of most major private universities.
“This year's tuition plan continues our innovative policy of fixed tuition and guaranteed financial aid for all returning undergraduates,” said GW President Steven Knapp. “At the same time, it provides the resources we need not only to keep strengthening our academic programs but to fund a significant enhancement of career services.”
The Board of Trustees approved a continuation of the university’s program of fixed tuition and guaranteed financial aid, which locks in an incoming undergraduate student’s cost of tuition for a five year period and ensures that need and merit-based institutional grants remain at least at the levels awarded at the time of a student’s initial enrollment. Approximately 60 percent of George Washington undergraduates receive financial aid.
“As parents, we have appreciated the fixed tuition policy at GW, because it has allowed us to plan financially for our student’s education over time, for up to 10 semesters, and provides some peace of mind to us that the largest single cost factor of our college expense is not going to change moving forward,” said Dan Curran, president of the Parents’ Association Advisory Council.
With fixed tuition, returning undergraduates (sophomores, juniors, seniors and fifth-year undergraduates) will have no increase in their tuition and fees for the 2013-2014 academic year. The annual tuition and fees for incoming undergraduate students in fall 2013 will be locked in at $47,342.50 annually for up to five years, as long as they remain in good academic standing. Underscoring the university’s commitment to containing costs, the total cost of attendance will increase by no more than 3.3 percent, depending on a student’s housing selection. Tuition and fees will increase 3.4 percent for incoming students.