The State Board for Virginia鈥檚 Community Colleges (VCCS) has voted to set tuition and mandatory educational and general (E&G) fees for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year, beginning with the Fall 2026 semester. While navigating a challenging economic environment, the Board prioritized student success by balancing a modest tuition adjustment with an aggressive 50% first-year discount on new workforce program fees to support students across the Alleghany Highlands and Rockbridge areas.
Starting this fall, both in-state and out-of-state tuition and mandatory E&G fees will increase by $6.70 per credit hour. For a local full-time in-state student taking 15 credit hours per semester, this amounts to an increase of $100.50 per semester, or $201.00 for the full academic year. Total tuition and E&G fees for a full-time semester will be approximately $2,625.
Even with this adjustment, Virginia鈥檚 community colleges remain the Commonwealth鈥檚 most affordable and accessible pathway to higher education and rewarding careers. Tuition remains less than one-third the cost of attending Virginia鈥檚 public four-year universities.
鈥淭he State Board wrestled with a tough decision, but it came down to one question鈥攄o we increase tuition rates for students or do we offer them less?鈥 said State Board Chair Dr. Michael E. Wooten. 鈥淲e believe that we have adopted modest tuition increases that are necessary to fund the capacity to train more people for meaningful jobs while shouldering the cost increases that we all face throughout the Commonwealth.鈥
The decision comes at a time when Virginia's community colleges continue to operate as the lowest-funded higher education institutions in the state. Currently, community colleges receive less than 52 cents for every dollar allocated to support a full-time equivalent student at a public Virginia university. Nationally, expenditures per full-time student in Virginia rank in the 23rd percentile, meaning 77% of community colleges across the United States spend more per student.
Easing the Transition: 50% Off New CTE Fees
To offset rising instructional costs and directly support program delivery, the VCCS will introduce new per-credit-hour course fees for select Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in high-demand fields, including healthcare, skilled trades, agriculture, and natural resources.
However, acutely aware of the financial challenges facing local families, the VCCS is discounting these new CTE course fees by 50% for the entire 2026-27 academic year. This one-year-only discount is designed to give students a more affordable entry point into critical workforce training programs that lead directly to stable, well-paying local jobs.
Financial Aid and Local Opportunities Available
For many local students, the out-of-pocket cost of tuition will remain zero. Virginia鈥檚 G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) tuition assistance program continues to fully cover tuition, fees, and expenses for qualifying students pursuing high-demand careers. Additionally, specialized in-state tuition rates remain available for active-duty military members, military dependents, and other specific student categories.
Because tuition differentials and auxiliary fees for student activities can vary by campus, interested students are encouraged to call 540-863-2820 to explore financial aid, review local fee structures, and register for Fall 2026 classes.