
RICHMOND,
Va. - Tuition at Virginia's state-supported universities and
colleges rose by 4.1 percent in 2012, the smallest rate of increase in
the past 10 years.
Gov. Bob McDonnell touted the news Wednesday at a Virginia
Commonwealth University event with college students wearing their school
colors arrayed behind him.
After years of double-digit
increases nearly doubled tuition and fees since 2002 at Virginia schools
as the General Assembly cut funding, lawmakers approved $230 million
this year to hold down increases. The average fell from 7.9 percent last
year.
Two years ago, McDonnell expressed frustration in particular
with VCU after tuition rates there increased by 24 percent, threatening
to withhold the school's state support unless it reined in cost
increases.
VCU held its increase this year to 3.9 percent, below the state average.
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