March 19, 2018
Dear UT Community,
I’m writing today to outline the new tuition rates for the next two academic years. But in light of the recent bombings in Austin, I’d like to begin by extending my deepest sympathies to those who have been impacted by these tragic acts of violence.
Two people have been killed, including Draylen Mason, a remarkable student and talented musician who had been admitted to UT’s Butler School of Music. Four people have been injured.
Our hearts are with the survivors, the family members supporting them during their recovery and all people who are mourning the lives of loved ones lost. An email was sent earlier today by UTPD Chief David Carter and Jimmy Johnson, interim associate vice president for campus safety and security, detailing safety resources available to you and security actions taken by the university. Please follow APD and UTPD via Twitter and Facebook to stay updated and informed.
Against the backdrop of these tragic events, we enter into the second half of the spring semester. Today, the UT System Board of Regents met to set tuition rates for the next two years.
In December, I announced a proposal to increase tuition by 2 percent for most UT degree programs in each of the next two academic years. The tuition increases have now been approved by the UT System Board of Regents and will take effect this coming fall semester.
Resident undergraduate tuition — which is currently an average of $5,200 per semester — will increase $104 per semester in 2018-19 and $106 per semester in 2019-20. The changes in tuition for most graduate programs will be similar, and the tuition increases for professional graduate programs in business and pharmacy will be larger.
The additional revenue from tuition will be used to recruit and retain exceptional faculty members, address inflationary costs and maintain and repair buildings, labs and classrooms.
An increase in the cost of education — no matter the amount — impacts the lives of UT students and families, especially those with financial need. I, along with members of UT’s senior leadership, am committed to providing additional financial aid for the students who need it most. During the past five years, we have increased financial aid by more than $15 million, and we will continue to expand financial assistance in the coming years.
By balancing tuition rates and financial aid, we can help meet the costs of operating a world-class university while remaining accessible and affordable to students of all backgrounds. That is our goal — to continue to increase the quality of education and serve students at the highest level.
Sincerely,
Gregory L. Fenves
President