West Virginia University to increase tuition by 5%, cut some programs

The decision has been taken in the wake of the financial challenges faced by the university due to increased debt load for new building projects, and the revenue lost during the pandemic. The university saw a 10% drop in enrollment since 2015.

Study in US: West Virginia University has announced to increase tuition by under 5% a semester and to cut many majors from its divisional campuses. These measures are being taken to offset enrollment drops and a budget deficit.

"These tuition and fee increases are necessary to cover increased costs due to inflation and to continue to invest in excellence within the institution’s core academic mission,” the university’s 2025 fiscal plan reads, as reported by News and Sentinel.

The university said student financial support will grow proportionally and the Chief Financial Officer Paula Congelio said half of all in-state West Virginia University graduates this year who earned bachelor’s degrees graduated with zero debt.

West Virginia University's Plan Ahead

During a meeting on Friday where the state flagship university’s board of governors approved the university’s financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year and voted to discontinue bachelor’s degree programs in chemistry, math and aviation management at West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley.

The board approved a new mine safety practices and health undergraduate certificate program for the engineering school at the main WVU campus in Morgantown.

In September, the board voted to reduce multiple academic programs and faculty positions as it grappled with a $45 million budget shortfall. Following this the university removed 28 of its majors which is about 8% and cut 143 of the faculty positions, or around 5%. The positions removed include the entire world language department and one-third of the education department faculty. No faculty positions were cut with the elimination of the degree programs from West Virginia University Institute of Technology and Potomac State.

The university is facing financial loss due 10% drop in enrollment since 2015, also due to revenue lost during a pandemic and increasing debt load for new building projects. The officials have said that these cuts, increase in tuition fees and other measures will help the university to get into a more stable financial position.

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