University System of Md. announces room and board, tuition freeze for upcoming academic year

BALTIMORE, Md. – The University System of Maryland (USM) has announced that it will freeze tuition and room and board rates for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year.

We’re told the Board of Regents voted to approve the recommendation originally put forward by Chancellor Jay Perman during the board’s Finance Committee meeting on June 10th. Under this policy, all schools in the system will maintain the same tuition and room and board rates as the 2019-20 academic year.

“Our students worked hard to adjust to the unexpected changes brought on by the pandemic while also completing their academic work—they ‘pushed through’ these challenges all the way to the final weeks of the 2020 spring semester. The board’s decision today allows the system to show support for our students and families by holding tuition and room-and-board rates steady so they can better navigate what we know for many has been great economic hardship,” said USM Board Chair Linda Gooden.

We’re told this decision was not easy, since both support essential activities such as instruction, information technology, academic counseling, financial aid, residence halls, health centers, libraries, security, and other administrative costs. The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption throughout higher education nationally, and caused financial loss to institutions across the USM, however officials felt the need to support students and families during an even greater time of economic challenge and uncertainty.