By Shirleen Guerra
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Virginia lawmakers are considering legislation that would change how in-state tuition is set at public colleges.

House Bill 502, introduced by Del. John McAuliff, would require public colleges to set fixed in-state tuition rates for incoming first-year and transfer students. Under the bill, a first-year student’s in-state tuition rate would remain unchanged for four academic years, while a transfer student’s rate would be locked in for the remainder of the student’s degree program, provided the student maintains continuous enrollment.

The measure allows limited exceptions, including for students whose enrollment is substantially disrupted or for degree programs that require more than four years to complete.

The proposal comes as tuition costs continue to rise statewide. According to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s most recent Tuition and Fees Report, tuition and mandatory education and general fees for in-state undergraduate students increased 2.6% this academic year, an average increase of $243 per student.

The council’s data shows average tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduates now total $14,460 per year. When room and board are included, average total charges reach $28,640, a 3.4% increase from the prior year.

The report also shows students pay about 42% of the cost of their education, while the remaining 58% is covered through state funding, which is largely supported by taxpayer dollars. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia estimates tuition could be as much as $1,900 lower per student if the state met its long-standing cost-share policy level of 67%.

Lawmakers are also considering House Bill 287 to expand eligibility for in-state tuition. The bill would allow non-Virginia students who are members or citizens of federally recognized Virginia tribes to qualify for in-state tuition if enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.

A preliminary fiscal impact statement from the Department of Planning and Budget says HB287 could reduce tuition revenue for public colleges, though the total impact cannot yet be calculated. Colleges would be expected to absorb the impact.

The tuition measures come as Attorney General Jay Jones moves to defend Virginia’s existing in-state tuition law in federal court. Jones said he filed a motion earlier this month to withdraw the commonwealth’s prior consent to a consent decree that could invalidate the law.

“On Day 1, I promised Virginians I would fight back against the Trump administration’s attacks on our commonwealth, our institutions of higher education, and most importantly, our students,” Jones said in a statement.