As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause case spikes in a variety of places across the United States, college students are gearing up for what will almost certainly be a strange academic experience for the 2020-21 school year. Many colleges are limiting the number of people who can be on campus, while others are embracing fully online instruction.
But how are colleges approaching the thorny issue of cost? Joblessness remains high despite fluctuations in overall unemployment claims, and many parents and students may have to make the tough choice to defer college until after the economy gets back on its feet.
Even before the pandemic, higher education was notoriously expensive. After adjusting for inflation, the cost of public college has risen nearly 30 percent over the past 40 years, according to a CNBC analysis.
We wanted to understand the appetite for reductions in tuition at colleges and universities across the country for the 2020-2021 school year. Our findings indicate that only a tiny fraction of institutions have cut tuition rates, while a few have slashed certain fees students pay. However, far more colleges and universities have held the line on tuition, though it’s important to note that for most institutions of higher learning, budgets are set months, if not years, in advance. So many colleges that previously agreed not to hike tuition this year didn’t necessarily take that step because of the pandemic.
Additionally, many colleges and universities did reduce tuition for the spring and summer terms, including Columbia University as well as others in the Ivy League, though it’s unclear whether they may retroactively do the same for the fall semester if COVID-19 cases surge and they are forced to suspend in-person classes.
Overall Findings
Our research revealed 11 colleges and universities that have reduced tuition for at least the next academic year because of the pandemic, either through a straightforward cut or another cost-cutting plan (more on those later).
Among those 11 schools, the average tuition reduction was about 20 percent, ranging from a low of 10 percent to a high of 50 percent. Three of these institutions were in the District of Columbia, two were in Georgia, and there was one school each in Arizona, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia.
Here’s a look at states where our research revealed at least one college or university slashing tuition in the wake of the pandemic.
States by number of institutions discounting tuition and average discount
| State | Institutions | Average reduction |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 1 | 50% |
| Ohio | 1 | 50% |
| Arizona | 1 | 25% |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 15% |
| Virginia | 1 | 15% |
| District of Columbia | 3 | 10% |
| Georgia | 2 | 10% |
| New Jersey | 1 | 10% |
Here’s a look at what our research revealed on a state-by-state basis. Did we miss a tuition break in your state? Let us know.
Alabama
The University of Alabama system put a tuition freeze in place that applies to both in-state and out-of-state students, the fourth straight year of a tuition freeze in the system. Similarly, the University of West Alabama will hold the line on tuition for the upcoming academic year.
Alaska
The University of Alaska’s governing body had previously ordered a 5 percent increase to in-state tuition, and board members have no plans to revisit that decision, meaning that tuition will rise for students this fall.
Arizona
Maricopa Community College has shifted its tuition plan, providing a flat rate for 12 or more credits, which equates to a 25 percent tuition reduction for in-state students taking at least 15 credits. The community college also extended out-of-state students the same fee residents pay for up to six credits.
At the University of Arizona system, in-state tuition won’t rise this year at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University or Northern Arizona University. However, out-of-state tuition as well as some fees for all students will rise. ASU’s out-of-state and online tuition will go up by as much as 5 percent for some students, while North Arizona’s out-of-state tuition will rise by 5 percent.
Arkansas
At least three university systems in Arkansas are freezing tuition for at least the next semester. The University of Arkansas system will freeze tuition and issue refunds of room and board for a portion of the spring semester. Southern Arkansas University Tech and Arkansas Tech University both will freeze tuition, while Arkansas Tech will raise room-and-board fees by about 3.6 percent.
Southern Arkansas University will freeze undergraduate tuition but raise graduate tuition by about 1.4 percent for in-state students. Housing rates and meal plan costs will rise by about 3.3 percent for undergrads.
California
Despite a series of lawsuits filed against multiple universities in California, our research revealed none that are planning to cut tuition this year. In fact, some will raise tuition, including the University of Southern California (3.5 percent) and Stanford University (5 percent). Both had previously planned to hike tuition rates pre-pandemic but have kept with their plans despite the widespread economic decline.
The University of California system and Pepperdine University are both being sued for not issuing refunds after classes moved online for most of the spring 2020 semester, but neither are planning to reduce tuition this year.
Colorado
Adams State University and the Community College of Denver both are increasing tuition, by 1 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Tuition in the University of Colorado system won’t fall, but no increase will take place this year.
Connecticut
Students in Connecticut will have an interesting option for potentially attending college for free — at least for a little while. In an initiative that was approved by the General Assembly in 2019 but received funding this year, community college for first-time students from Connecticut will be tuition-free for at least the fall semester.
Tuition in the University of Connecticut system, which includes UConn’s Storrs campus as well as the four regional universities in the state, will rise by about 2.6 percent. UConn is also among the universities being sued over spring semester refunds.
Yale University has no plans to cut tuition, but room and board costs will be reduced to reflect a shortened fall semester.
Delaware
Both the University of Delaware system and Delaware State University will hold the line this fall on tuition.
District of Columbia
Three universities in D.C. will reduce tuition costs for some students. Catholic University will cut tuition by 10 percent for students whose classes moved online, and only freshmen will be allowed on campus this fall. Similarly, all classes at American University will move online and all students will receive a 10 percent tuition reduction for the semester. Georgetown University’s plans are similar, with only freshmen being allowed on campus and all other students getting a 10 percent tuition reduction. Those permitted to live on campus will see room-and-board costs cut by 20 percent.
Florida
Some tuition reductions will be possible for University of South Florida students through a waiver/scholarship program that will apply to students who don’t already have their tuition covered by other need-based financial aid or third-party payment, such as student loans. The one-time payments, ranging from $500 to $2,060, will depend on course load, and the university expects as many as 22,000 students to qualify, or roughly 43 percent of total enrollment.
Georgia
Students at Spelman College and Clark Atlanta will see a 10 percent tuition discount, while Spelman students will see an average fee reduction of about 40 percent and all Clark Atlanta students will get a free laptop.
Hawaii
No reported tuition freezes or reductions
Idaho
Students in the University of Idaho system, which includes Boise State and Idaho State universities, will see tuition hold steady this fall, though the plan was put in place before COVID-19.
Illinois
First-year students in the University of Illinois system will attend under last year’s tuition structure, with administrators rescinding tuition hikes at the Chicago campus (1.8 percent) and both the Urbana-Champaign and Springfield campuses (1 percent). Tuition will remain at last year’s levels at Illinois State University as well.
Northwestern University approved an undergraduate tuition hike of 3.5 percent in June.
Indiana
No Indiana colleges and universities have published tuition reductions, though several are freezing rates at last year’s levels, including Ball State University, Notre Dame and the University of Indianapolis.
Iowa
Students in the University of Iowa system, which includes Iowa State University, and Drake University will pay the same tuition rates as last year, with both institutions putting tuition freezes in place. Grinnell College will award grants of up to $2,500 for full-time students.
Kansas
Wichita State University will increase tuition by 2 percent, while rates won’t change at the University of Kansas or Kansas State University.
Kentucky
Some students in the University of Kentucky system will see a change to their tuition costs, though it may not apply across the board to all scholars. The system will put a cap in place on online courses that’s expected to save as much as $2,000 over the course of a semester depending on whether or not students attend fully online.
Louisiana
No reported tuition freezes or reductions
Maine
Bowdoin College will welcome a small number of students to campus, only first-year students and transfers, and the college will put a tuition freeze in place for the fall semester.
Maryland
Tuition freezes are in place in the University of Maryland system and at Morgan State University, while both Johns Hopkins University (3 percent) and Loyola Maryland (2 percent) are moving forward with tuition hikes they’d passed previously.
Massachusetts
Tuition at Williams College will fall by 15 percent, while the University of Massachusetts system will freeze rates at their previous levels. And despite moving to mostly online classes, Harvard plans no changes to tuition rates.
Michigan
The University of Michigan system will increase tuition by 1 percent but will also hike undergraduate financial aid by 5.6 percent, while Michigan State University will hold the line on tuition and increase financial aid to students by 4 percent.
Minnesota
Both the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University systems will freeze tuition for most students this year, excluding professional programs, such as medical and dental schools, at the UM system.
Mississippi
No reported tuition freezes or reductions.
Missouri
Students in the University of Missouri system will see their tuition rates rise by 2.3 percent this fall.
Montana
No reported tuition freezes or reductions.
Nebraska
Students at campuses in the University of Nebraska system could see huge cuts to their tuition rates, and the system is freezing tuition rates for at least two years. The system will implement a tuition-free model for in-state residents with family income of less than $60,000. While the cut doesn’t cover room and board, the plan equates to a cost savings of about 50 percent for full-time students who qualify.
Nevada
No reported tuition freezes or reductions
New Hampshire
Dartmouth University will move forward with a previously planned tuition increase of about 4 percent.
New Jersey
The College of New Jersey will cut tuition by 3.5 percent for in-state students and 2.5 percent for out-of-staters, while Princeton University will cut tuition rates by 10 percent and Rutgers University will reduce campus fees by 15 percent and freeze tuition at its current rate.
New Mexico
No reported tuition freezes or reductions
New York
New York University will hike tuition by 2.95 percent, while tuition levels will hold steady at the City University and State University of New York systems.
North Carolina
Duke University will freeze tuition for undergraduates, rescinding a previously planned tuition hike of 3.9 percent for the coming academic year.
North Dakota
No reported tuition freezes or reductions.
Ohio
Cleveland State University’s new 2-for-1 tuition plan could result in a 50 percent tuition discount for students who attend full-time. If students successfully complete the fall 2020 semester with a GPA of at least 2.75, their spring 2021 tuition will be free, after any financial aid. First-time freshmen at Ohio State University will see tuition rates 3.9 percent higher than last year’s levels.
Oklahoma
Tuition at the University of Oklahoma will hold steady for the third straight year, while Oklahoma State University tuition also will remain at its current level. Rose State College will increase tuition by 4.9 percent, while Eastern Oklahoma State College will hike tuition rates by 5 percent.
Oregon
Oregon State University will increase tuition rates for new undergraduates by an average of 3.6 percent for in-state students depending on their courseload, but rates for current students will remain unchanged for this school year. Students at Western Oregon University will see tuition rise by 4.55 percent.
Pennsylvania
Penn State University will freeze tuition for in-state and out-of-state students, while campus residents at the University of Pennsylvania will see cuts to room-and-board rates since the semester will end at Thanksgiving break. University of Pittsburgh students will see no changes to tuition or fees.
Rhode Island
Brown University trustees approved a 3.75 percent tuition hike in February and will not reverse it, but they have increased undergraduate financial aid by 9 percent. Rhode Island College has cut some fees, including for athletics (75 percent) and fine arts (100 percent), while proposed hikes to dining and student union fees will be rescinded.
South Carolina
Tuition will remain static at the University of South Carolina for the first time since 1998, while room-and-board rates will rise. Campus residents at Clemson University will receive a 29 percent refund of residence and dining hall costs with the school year’s start delayed to late September.
South Dakota
No reported tuition freezes or reductions.
Tennessee
Tuition rates will hold the line at the University of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State University, Eastern Tennessee State University, the University of Memphis and Vanderbilt University.
Texas
No reported tuition freezes or reductions.
Utah
Public universities in Utah will mostly see tuition rise, with the exception of Southern Utah University. Tuition hikes for the public university system in the state were approved in March, with no plans to rescind them. Hikes will impact students at Utah State University (3.5 percent), Dixie State University (3 percent) and Snow College (2.25 percent).
Vermont
Middlebury College will increase 2020-21 tuition by 3.75 percent, while tuition won’t rise at the University of Vermont or Vermont Technical College.
Virginia
Hampton University will reduce tuition rates by 15 percent, while the College of William and Mary rolled back a previously planned 3 percent tuition hike. Undergraduate tuition in the University of Virginia system won’t rise, but students will see a 2.8 percent increase in fees, while tuition will stay steady at James Madison University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Tuition will rise by 4.9 percent at George Mason University.
Washington
Students at Seattle University will pay the same tuition rates as last year, and some fees will be eliminated, including most activities and course fees that don’t apply with online instruction.
West Virginia
The University of West Virginia will freeze tuition and fees for all students.
Wisconsin
No reported tuition freezes or reductions.
Wyoming
No reported tuition freezes or reductions.
