Breaking News

Friday, Feb. 8, 4:06 p.m.

The University will raise tuition by 3 percent for the incoming freshman class, but there will be a $6 million increase in need-based institutional grants, the Board of Trustees announced at its meeting Friday.

“Affordability is a national issue,” said University President Steven Knapp. “We are trying to address the issue of affordability and our need to make sure that we have a long term plan to … reduce overall costs.”

Other ways the Board plans to make GW more affordable include reducing the cost of room and board for 1,000 incoming students and approval of a five-year plan to quadruple fundraising for student aid per year from $10 million to $40 million. The University will also offer $118 million in financial aid next year. Returning students will not see an increase in their tuition next year, the University announced.

“We must make sure that the students that are qualified to come (to the university) can continue to do so,” Knapp said. “We are moving in the direction of need-based aid as opposed to merit based aid because that addresses the issue of affordability.”

According to an October 2007 College Board report, tuition at colleges across the country increased an average of 6.3 percent compared to the previous year. Since 2004, GW has offered fixed tuition, a plan that allows students to pay the same rate for tuition for up to five years of undergraduate coursework.

“Knapp’s goal is to try to keep tuition the same, factor in for the inflation and let other school’s pass us,” said Tracy Schario, a media relations spokesperson. “Tuition can’t be decreased but you can control overall costs. The food allowance will remain the same.”