Parkersburg, W.Va. (March 29, 2021) – West Virginia University at Parkersburg has announced that there will be no tuition increase for the 2021-2022 academic year. The Board of Governors voted on March 11 that students will pay the same tuition rates for the 2021-2022 academic year as they do now.

“WVU Parkersburg has always been committed to fair and affordable tuition rates, which is why we consistently rank in the top one-third most affordable associate degree and as the most affordable baccalaureate degree in West Virginia,” said Alice Harris, executive vice president of Finance and Administration. “Affordable tuition provides individuals with access to our high-quality, life-changing, accredited programs. A publicly-funded university such as WVU Parkersburg has a moral and ethical obligation to keep tuition rates as affordable as possible while providing enough revenue to support its outstanding programs.”

WVU Parkersburg offers the lowest bachelor’s degree tuition rate in West Virginia and in-state tuition rates to all Ohio residents, making it one of the most affordable, accredited four-year colleges in the nation. Additionally, WVU Parkersburg’s tuition charges are capped, so any credits taken over 12 credit hours per semester are offered at no additional charge. Scholarships, need-based grants, loans and employment opportunities are also offered to students to help cover the cost of attendance.

The tuition rate for the associate’s degree program is $160 per credit hour. For the bachelor’s degree program, the tuition rate is $221 per credit hour and the Early College program’s tuition rate is $50 per credit hour.

“It pleases me that our Board of Governors always acts with the best interest of the students in mind and is willing to support any reasonable administrative recommendation that puts students first and helps them to achieve their educational goals,” said Dr. Chris Gilmer, WVU Parkersburg president. “Our Board and our administration are oriented toward uplifting the students in every possible way, and this is the reasoning behind my recommendation that we not raise tuition at this time. Students are meeting so many challenges because of the pandemic–issues of grief and loss, loss of jobs, decreases in family income, feelings of isolation. We need to do everything we can do to make their achievement of a higher education easier and nothing to make it more difficult. WVUP is in solid fiscal condition and able to meet its budgetary needs without a tuition increase this year. This fact gave the Board the confidence it needed to make this investment in our students.”

For more information on WVU Parkersburg’s tuition and fees, go to wvup.edu/tuition-fees.