The House Appropriations Committee provides funding in the budget to moderate tuition growth in the state’s public colleges and universities.
Virginia’s public 4-year colleges and universities operate in a decentralized system of higher education, meaning there is very little centralized control over tuition and fee setting, and these costs are left to the discretion of 15 separate Board of Visitors. To moderate these costs for students and their families, the General Assembly provides incentives through state general fund dollars to those institutions that raise tuition within reason.
Virginia also has 23 2-year community colleges that operate under a centralized system and provide an affordable option for higher education with an average tuition of $5,049 per year.
Budget Overview
Educational & general programs (E & G) at each public institution are supported by general and nongeneral funds (primarily tuition and fees). E & G programs include: Instruction, the single largest component of E & G; Academic Support programs such as libraries; Student services such as admissions, registrar, counseling and financial aid administration; Institutional Support such as executive management, fiscal, human resources, and campus police; and, Physical Plant such as custodial, utilities and maintenance.
