University of Tennessee Board of Trustees approves tuition increase

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees voted to approve the first tuition increase in four years as a part of the university’s budget in addition to several changes.

University officials said the board approved a 2% tuition increase for in-state students and a 4% tuition increase for out-of-state students that will be effective in fall 2024.

It’s the first tuition increase for the university since the 2019-2020 academic year.

“We worked hard to keep tuition flat for many years and absorbed costs during that time period, including raises for hourly workers and lecturers,” Chancellor Donde Plowman said. “We also created the Division of Student Success, which has been hugely successful and resulted in a 91.1% retention rate for fall 2023. A modest tuition increase is necessary as costs continue to rise to deliver high-quality education programs and a meaningful student experience.”

Officials said the tuition increases will support institutional scholarships, expanded academic offerings and student services, and additional capacity in instructional programs.

Additionally, the board approved two mandatory fee increases, those being the technology fee by $60 and the transportation fee by $40. The technology fee will support the need for hybrid and fully remote IT capabilities and the number of devices using bandwidth on campus, and the transportation fee will fund additional routes and buses for the T transport system.

There will also be a $44 increase to the online fee, which officials said will enhance the online learning experience by creating the infrastructure needed to provide targeted success coaches for each online learner and increase the likelihood of retention and degree completion.

The board also voted on other things, including changes to the guaranteed admissions policy, naming the College of Music the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, allowing the university to “enter several lease agreements to enhance the student experience and support enrollment growth, research and collaboration with industry” and digital learning.

The board also voted to approve honorary degrees to Lamar Alexander and Rita Geier.