Winthrop Board Of Trustees Approve Lowest Tuition Increase In 18 Years

ROCK HILL, SC — The Winthrop University Board of Trustees continued to demonstrate its commitment to keeping a Winthrop education affordable by approving a 2.48 percent undergraduate tuition increase for in-state and out-of-state students during its quarterly meeting on June 23.

The increase is the lowest trustees have approved in 18 years.

Winthrop in-state undergraduate students will pay $7,435 in the fall semester, $180 more than in fall 2016. This is the fourth year in a row that the board has approved an historically low tuition increase.

“Four years in a row of historically low tuition increases, coupled with scholarships, grants and other financial aid for which our students qualify, ensures that a Winthrop education is competitive with other public institutions when the full cost of attendance is considered,” said Vice President for Finance and Business J.P. McKee. “We work to keep tuition costs as low as possible, while still offering our students the living and learning experience for which we are nationally recognized. We remain steadfast in our mission to prepare students for a lifetime of learning and for jobs in a global economy.”

The increase, which takes effect for the 2017-18 academic year, will help fund infrastructure improvements, including technology hardware and software, as well as costs associated with various student support services. Additionally, it will fund the university’s portion of state-mandated pension plan costs for employees, increases in costs for health and dental benefits, and institutional marketing efforts.

Out-of-state students will pay $14,393 this fall semester — $348 more than a year ago.

Trustees approved a 3.48% percent tuition increase for Graduate School tuition. In-state graduate students will pay $620 per credit hour, and out-of-state graduate students will pay $1,193 per credit hour.

Winthrop room and board fees, which vary according to type of housing and meal plan chosen, will see a 2.3% percent increase for housing and a 3.6% increase for board, but still remain lower than the costs at many other universities.

Trustees also approved the 2017-18 budget at the June 23 meeting.