Private schools’ graduation numbers remain stable
While concerns about the costs of education have led to some declines and ups and downs in enrollment among private colleges in the commonwealth, the number of degrees these Virginia institutions are awarding overall has remained relatively stable. Many parents and students are wary of accumulating crushing college loan debt and paying skyrocketing tuition rates. […]
New options, new audiences
As more students and their families question which colleges present the best return on their big investments, many are choosing to play it safe. That often means starting at community college or public universities while living at home, with others postponing post-secondary education or considering other options. The impact of college loan debt and soaring […]
Education: Getting their money’s worth
The past year brought more big donations to Virginia’s universities, as well as the installation of a few new presidents, while students and families remained focused on finances and return on investment. In Virginia Business’ August 2023 cover story, “Money machine,” the magazine examined the soaring costs of a four-year degree over the past decades, […]
MBU program makes college more affordable
Entering her senior year at Waynesboro High School last fall, Emma Clark did not know whether higher education was in her future. The youngest of eight children, she was mindful that her father’s mechanic business had to provide for all her siblings. “I don’t have the access to money like other people would,” she says. […]
The antacid
For every parent who’s ever downed a Prilosec-and-Maalox cocktail while making out an eye-popping college tuition check, there comes a moment when they may look askance at how universities are spending their money. After all, the same schools that send entreaties to contribute to billion-dollar capital campaigns have dramatically increased tuition — and administrative compensation [&hellip[...]
Money machine
In 2009, Donald Hart found himself in an enviable position. Leading up to his graduation from Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Hart had been accepted to a slew of the state’s public, four-year universities: Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University, George Mason University and James Madison University. Attracted by the […]
U.Va. to offer $50M more in scholarships
The University of Virginia will invest another $50 million in matching funds through the Bicentennial Scholarship Fund, U.Va. President Jim Ryan said last week. Established in 2016 with an initial $100 million investment, the fund matches philanthropic commitments toward scholarships, both need- and merit-based. Donors have committed about $314 million in endowed scholarships, and the […]
Northam proposes $111M for undergrad financial aid
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday that he wants to designate $111 million in federal aid to financial aid for undergraduate students: $100 million for public higher education institutions through the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia and $11 million for private institutions eligible for SCHEV‘s Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant program. The General Assembly [&hellip[...]
Tuition-free program for eligible community college students becomes law
Legislation creating a tuition-free community college program in Virginia became law Monday, as Gov. Ralph Northam held a bill signing ceremony at Northern Virginia Community College for the “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back” program, one of his signature initiatives. Known as G3, the program provides funding for tuition, fees and books and other […]
Virginia students could get in-state tuition despite citizenship status
RICHMOND, Va. — The state Senate and the House have advanced bills to make students living in the U.S. without documentation eligible for in-state tuition. SB 935, introduced by Democratic Sens. Jennifer Boysko and Ghazala Hashmi, would require a student to provide proof of filed taxes to be eligible for in-state tuition. A student also […]
Northam pitches $145M free community college program
Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposed budget will include $145 million to make community college tuition free for low- and middle-income students pursuing degrees in high-demand career fields, Northam announced Thursday. The Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back (G3) initiative will provide financial support to cover tuition, fees and books for eligible students at two-year public […]