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 3.5 percent. This is the eighth consecutive year that the university has held increases in the overall cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room and board) to less than four percent. The board also decided to maintain the university’s fixed tuition policy, which began in 2004.
"While modestly increasing tuition for incoming freshmen, we are once again preserving the fixed tuition policy that we have had in place for more than a decade," said George Washington President Steven Knapp. “As a result, continuing undergraduates will not see any increase in their tuition as they proceed toward the completion of their degrees.”
A portion of funding from the upcoming tuition increase will be used to hire new mental health counselors and support programming and training. Last month, the university opened the Colonial Health Center, a wellness hub in the center of GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus that brings together GW’s medical, mental health and health promotion and prevention services for students under one roof.
"Additional medical staff and mental health counselors will join the nearly 40 professional staff members in the Colonial Health Center who work with our students on a daily basis to provide resources, prevention education and guidance on the variety of concerns they may face during their college careers," said Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Peter Konwerski. "This funding will enhance our ongoing efforts to support student wellness and success through quality, comprehensive care."
With fixed tuition, returning undergraduates (sophomores, juniors, seniors and fifth-year undergraduates) will have no increase in their tuition for the 2015-16 academic year. The tuition for incoming undergraduate students in fall 2015 will be locked in at $50,367 annually for up to five years, as long as they remain in good academic standing. Underscoring the university’s commitment to containing costs, the percent increase compared to last year is 3.4 percent for tuition and 3.5 percent for the total cost of attendance, depending on a student’s housing selection.
“In continuing its policy of fixed tuition, the university will ensure students and their families have the ability to plan for the cost of a GW education for up to 10 semesters,” said Robert Pagoni, president of the GW Parents’ Association Advisory Council. “The university has shown that it is committed to providing an excellent education while containing the cost of attendance.”