I thought it would be beneficial for future applicants to easily find out which colleges offer fixed tuition for all four years of their study. Considering that some schools are increasing tuition by 3, 4, 5%, or more each year, these fixed-tuition plans could represent enormous savings. There was a thread (link below) started back in 2011 but it would be beneficial to revive the subject and gather a list. I’ll create post #1 with Miami U and if anyone knows of others, please copy the list and paste it into a new post including your addition. Thanks!
Miami University (OH) - Miami Promise
Drake
Please copy and paste the list below into a new post with your addition…
Miami University (OH) - Miami Promise
U Dayton. https://udayton.edu/apply/undergraduate/cost/index.php
Drake
Miami University (OH) - Miami Promise
U Dayton. https://udayton.edu/apply/undergraduate/cost/index.php
Drake
Ohio University
Seems like standard practice in Ohio. I wish all the schools do same or at least limit the increases to CPI/inflation.
In-state tuition at Northern Illinois - http://www.niu.edu/bursar/_pdf/Truth-In-Tuition-Policy.pdf
I saw that list @Fishnlines29. It’s helpful but 34 of the 69 schools listed are in Texas. Nothing against Texas, but surely we can make a better list!
William & Mary Promise (for in-state Virginia only)
The Northeastern Promise is not a guarantee that tuition won’t go up. But it does guarantee that your need-based aid will remain at least the same for four years (with increases that match any tuition increases). If your financial situation worsens, they will consider increasing your aid. But if your situation improves, they won’t decrease your aid.
Miami University (OH) - Miami Promise
U Dayton. https://udayton.edu/apply/undergraduate/cost/index.php
Drake
Ohio University
University of Northern Arizona - https://nau.edu/registrar/pledge/our-pledge/
Miami University (OH) - Miami Promise
U Dayton. https://udayton.edu/apply/undergraduate/cost/index.php
Drake
Ohio University
University of Northern Arizona - https://nau.edu/registrar/pledge/our-pledge/
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (in state)
Miami University (OH) - Miami Promise
U Dayton. https://udayton.edu/apply/undergraduate/cost/index.php
Drake
Ohio University
University of Northern Arizona - https://nau.edu/registrar/pledge/our-pledge/
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (in state)
George Washington
William & Mary Promise (for in-state Virginia only)
Miami University (OH) - Miami Promise
U Dayton. https://udayton.edu/apply/undergraduate/cost/index.php
Drake
Ohio University
University of Northern Arizona - https://nau.edu/registrar/pledge/our-pledge/
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (in state)
University of Kansas - Tuition Compact (opt-in)
In your planning, be sure to remember that fixed tuition doesn’t freeze room, board, fees, and healthcare…
Very helpful @Ynotgo. Another consideration is (are?) those pesky fees. They are becoming a real problem.
Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish.
All your planning is for nought if your kid needs 9 semesters to get an 8 semester degree (very common in some schools) or ends up needing to pay for 10 semesters JUST for a BA (at some colleges, that would pay for a BA plus a Master’s degree).
I know dozens of kids in real life who have paid for a full semester but ended up with partial credit. I know dozens of kids in real life who discovered that they took the wrong pre-req for their major and now need an extra semester.
The annual increases are annoying to be sure. But an annual increase at a college which has a solid commitment to getting your kid out in four years is a much better financial deal than a college which freezes its tuition and then has subpar advising, or doesn’t offer enough sections of critical courses so that anyone can take them as long as they’ve fulfilled the requirements, or isn’t transparent about what every degree program requires. At the end of the day- getting your kid out on time is the single most important lever to your financial planning. Get in and get out with a degree. If that means tuition goes up every year but I won’t have that emergency extra year to try and finance- I’m fine with that.
My daughter’s fees have remained the same (only $325 per semester) but her tuition has increased almost $2000 per year. When we first looked at the school, it was $32k, and now (junior year) is $39k+. Merit aid was set freshman year and does not increase. Room and board increase (a lot) but she no longer lives on campus.
I don’t think the tuition freeze promises are as beneficial as they might seem. One of the schools in Tenn or Kentucky does the freeze, but when they increase tuition it is like $5000 for freshmen, so it is almost like you are pre-paying that increase.
Important information to take into consideration @blossom . However, your advice implies that fixed-tuition goes hand in hand with poor advising, overcrowded courses, and lack of transparency. Surely there are some schools on the fixed-tuition list that do well at getting kids in and out in 4 years. And just as surely, there are some non fixed-tuition schools that do a poor job getting kids in and out in 4 years.
This thread is about sharing information. In my opinion, the more information you have, the better decision you can make.