Christopher Newport and Old Dominion universities will consider raising tuition for in-state undergrads in the coming month, restarting a trend of climbing college costs after several years of stable tuition.

On April 19, CNU’s Board of Visitors will consider raising tuition and fees for all students up to 4.2%. 

The increase would pay for the university’s share of state-mandated compensation increases, new facilities that are scheduled to be finished, support student financial aid, increased costs in contracted services and “cost escalations in other non-personnel services,” according to the Board’s public meeting notice.

With a full 4.2% increase, an in-state undergraduate without room and board would pay $17,037 a year at Christopher Newport.

The public notice does note that the amount of tuition revenue necessary will be contingent on the final state budget.

ODU's board will consider raising all undergraduate tuition up to 5% and mandatory fees up to 7% at a meeting on March 28.

If the full increases are approved, in-state undergraduates would pay $12,967.78 a year at ODU without room and board.

ODU also cites state-mandated compensation increases as a reason the college needs to increase tuition revenue. The public meeting notice also cites costs from capital projects, faculty retention and recruitment, STEM degree production, facility maintenance and enhancing technology infrastructure.

It’s the second year both schools are considering tuition increases following several years of keeping costs stable in exchange for state funding. 

Norfolk State University and William & Mary, the other two public four-year colleges in Hampton Roads, also began raising their tuition again for the 2023 school year.

All of the schools froze their tuition in 2019 when state lawmakers budgeted $52 million for public colleges that agreed to keep their tuition the same. 

Schools could still increase fees, which ODU and William & Mary did a few times between 2019 and 2021.

Lawmakers continued to offer some funding for colleges to maintain tuition levels, but Gov. Glenn Youngkin only encouraged schools to do so last year with no financial incentive.

Norfolk State University and William & Mary haven't made any announcements about tuition adjustments yet.

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