Two major state university systems voted on tuition this week. Georgia's Board of Regents approved a 1% in-state tuition increase and 3% out-of-state increase across all 25 public universities in the University System of Georgia, effective fall 2026. Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors approved a 2.9% increase on April 14, adding $561 per year for in-state undergraduates (new total: $17,087) and $1,203 per year for out-of-state students (new total: $40,180). Room and board at Virginia Tech will rise 6.7% — adding $950 annually, a larger dollar jump than the tuition increase itself.

Two state university systems made tuition decisions this week that will affect hundreds of thousands of students starting in fall 2026.

University System of Georgia: Context Matters

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents voted on April 15, 2026, to set tuition rates for the coming academic year across all 25 member institutions.1

In-state undergraduate students will see a 1% increase. Out-of-state and international students will see a 3% increase.

For most Georgia students, that translates to roughly $45 per semester more. At Augusta University, for example, in-state tuition rises from $4,542 to $4,587 at the Health Sciences campus, and from $3,532 to $3,567 at the Summerville campus. Per-credit-hour rates at Augusta increase from $303 to $306 at Health Sciences and from $235 to $237 at Summerville.1

Here's the context that most coverage skips: this is only the fourth time in the past decade that the USG Board has approved any tuition increase at all for in-state students. Georgia has largely kept tuition flat since 2017. The 1% figure is well below current inflation — which means the real cost of running these institutions is rising faster than what students are being charged.2

The board also approved fee adjustments at 13 of the system's 25 institutions. At Kennesaw State University and Georgia Southern University, mandatory fees for in-person students will actually decrease — the result of a reallocation of student services funding.

For school-by-school cost breakdowns across Georgia public universities, see the Georgia college costs guide. For a national comparison, the college tuition by state overview shows where Georgia ranks relative to other state systems.

Virginia Tech: The Room-and-Board Number Is the Real Story

Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors voted on April 14, 2026, to approve a 2.9% increase in tuition and fees for the 2026-27 academic year.3

Tuition and fee increases by student category:

  • In-state undergraduates: +$561 annually, new total $17,087
  • Out-of-state undergraduates: +$1,203 annually, new total $40,180
  • In-state graduate students: +$640 annually, new total $19,858
  • Out-of-state graduate students: +$1,122 annually, new total $37,334

The headline tuition increase is 2.9%. But room and board will rise 6.7% — adding $950 per year for a new annual total of $15,032. The comprehensive fee is also increasing by $160.3

For an in-state Virginia Tech student living on campus, the combined increase in tuition, fees, and housing comes to roughly $1,511 more per year compared to 2025-26. The tuition increase alone tells less than half of that story.

When comparing Virginia Tech against other schools — in-state Virginia options, flagship universities in neighboring states, or private alternatives — use the net price calculator on each school's website, not the sticker prices. Virginia Tech's in-state tuition of $17,087 is relatively low for a flagship research university. Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on your aid package, which you can appeal if your family's financial circumstances have changed since you applied.

What You Should Do Now

Whether your school has announced a tuition increase or not, mid-April is the right time to act on cost decisions.

If you received your aid letter: Use the net price calculator and decode your financial aid award letter to understand what you'll actually owe. Tuition is one line on a bill that also includes fees, housing, dining, books, and transportation.

If the increase changes what you can afford: File a financial aid appeal. Most schools have a formal process for students whose cost burden changed materially since the application. Document any change in family income, medical expenses, or other circumstances.

If you're still choosing between schools: Compare the full average cost of college after aid at each school on your list, not the sticker prices. A school with a higher tuition figure can still cost less after accounting for grants.

For Georgia students: The Georgia college scholarships guide covers state-specific programs including the HOPE Scholarship, which offsets tuition for qualifying students and is unaffected by the system-wide rate increase.

What's Still Coming

The tuition announcement calendar isn't finished. Many state flagship universities have not yet released their 2026-27 rates. The Georgia and Virginia Tech votes this week offer a reasonable baseline for what to expect from public schools nationally: 1-3% for in-state tuition, with housing and dining increases that often run higher than the tuition number.

If you're still comparing schools and haven't finalized costs, treat these announced rates as confirmed data points — and assume that schools that haven't announced yet are likely in the same range.

Footnotes

  1. University System of Georgia. (2026, April 15). University System of Georgia Sets Tuition for 2026-2027 Academic Year. https://www.usg.edu/news/release/university-system_of_georgia_sets_tuition_for_2026-2027_academic_year/ ↩ ↩2

  2. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (2026, April 15). Regents raise tuition for all public Georgia colleges. https://www.ajc.com/education/2026/04/regents-raise-tuition-for-all-public-georgia-colleges/ ↩

  3. Virginia Tech News. (2026, April 14). Virginia Tech Board of Visitors sets tuition and fees for the 2026-27 academic year. https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/04/cm-bovtuition-041426.html ↩ ↩2