As the University System of Maryland prepares to raise tuition for all of its schools by 5% next academic year, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the state’s public honors college, is holding the line on tuition. The tuition increase for USM schools will not affect St. Mary’s College, say college officials.
The St. Mary’s College Board of Trustees voted recently to approve no tuition increase for the 2015-16 academic year. This is the third straight year with no increase for Maryland residents and the second year in a row of no increase for out-of-state students. This locks into place the 2014-15 tuition rate of $11,195 for in-state students which had already been cut by 8.6%—the largest price cut in the country for a public four-year school—from the previous year. It also locks into place the 2014 tuition rate of $26,045 for out-of-state students.
This action firmly signals an ongoing commitment by St. Mary’s College to provide a top liberal arts education that is affordable. President Tuajuanda C. Jordan said, “Among the highest priorities for St. Mary’s College is not only to provide our students with the best public liberal arts education available, but to ensure access. We are committed to keeping a St. Mary’s College education both excellent and affordable.”
College officials say they are holding the line on tuition without adversely affecting academic funding, eliminating jobs, or putting additional pressure on students to pay more.