
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994                    TAG: 9406160498 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B6    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940616                                 LENGTH: Medium

VA. COLLEGE TUITION INCREASES AVERAGE UNDER 3%

{LEAD} After four years of double-digit increases at Virginia's public universities and colleges, tuition and fees for the 1994-95 school year will rise less than 3 percent on average.

Tuition and fees will rise about $70, or 2.9 percent, for in-state students attending major public universities, compared with 10.4 percent in 1993-94.

However, four institutions - including Old Dominion University and Norfolk

{REST} State University - will exceed the state average, according to a report released this week by the State Council of Higher Education.

ODU held tuition increases to 3 percent, but added a $20 ``general services'' fee to cover course changes and graduation costs. This brings the total increase to 3.8 percent for in-state undergraduate tuition, educational and general fees.

However, ODU's overall cost for in-state students living on campus will increase by only 1.8 percent. ``ODU more than complied with the spirit of things by keeping the increases down,'' said Donald J. Finley, the state council's associate director.

NSU will raise tuition, educational and general fees 4.2 percent for Virginia undergrads. The total increase for full-time students living on campus will be less than 1 percent, the lowest in the state.

Radford University and Richard Bland College in Petersburg will also exceed 3 percent, with total tuition, educational and general fee increases of 4.1 percent and 4.5 percent respectively for in-state students.

These increases are far below the statewide numbers from the past four years, which average 12 percent. ``The parents and students will find it refreshing,'' said Mike McDowell, spokesman for the council.

Last summer, the council recommended keeping tuition increases at the estimated rate of inflation - 3 percent - and Gov. George F. Allen and the General Assembly allotted $21.3 million for institutions to keep costs down.

``A lot of schools haven't had increases this low in a long time,'' said Dan Hix, finance coordinator for the council. ``In terms of cost for higher-education consumers, it's a much better picture for next year.''

{KEYWORDS} UNIVERSITY COLLEGE VIRGINIA TUITION

by CNB