Baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; fixed in-state tuition rates.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Fixed Tuition Rates for Virginia College Students

This bill requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study how setting fixed in-state tuition rates for four years would affect public colleges and universities, then report their findings.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to assess the impact of a policy that sets fixed in-state tuition rates for first-year undergraduate students at baccalaureate public institutions.
• Specifies that each student who maintains continuous enrollment and makes satisfactory progress towards completing their degree would be eligible for this rate for four academic years or any portion thereof.
• Requires the Council to report its findings on the potential impact of fixed tuition rates by November 30, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
• Baccalaureate public institutions of higher education in Virginia
• First-year undergraduate students enrolled in four-year baccalaureate programs

Terms To Know

baccalaureate

A degree from a college or university, usually requiring at least four years of full-time study.

continuous enrollment

Being enrolled in classes without taking any breaks during the academic year.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what actions should be taken based on the report's findings.
• It is unclear how many institutions will participate fully and provide accurate data for the assessment.

Official Summary Text

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; fixed in-state tuition policy; review; report.
Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council), in consultation with each baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, to assess the potential impact of a policy whereby such institutions are required to establish a fixed in-state tuition rate for each incoming first year undergraduate Virginia student enrolled in a four-year baccalaureate program and declare each such student eligible for such rate for four academic years or any portion or term thereof during which the student makes satisfactory progress toward completing such degree program, provided that the student maintains continuous enrollment. The bill requires the Council to report its findings to the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations no later than November 30, 2026.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL NO. 502

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Education

on February 11, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate McAuliff)

A BILL to require the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to assess the potential impact of a fixed Virginia student tuition policy; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
(the Council)
, in consultation with each
baccalaureate
public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, shall
assess the potential impact

of a policy whereby such institutions are required to
establish a fixed in-state tuition rate for each incoming first year undergraduate Virginia student
enrolled in a four-year baccalaureate program
and declare
each such student
eligible for such rate for four academic years or any portion or term thereof during which
the student
makes satisfactory progress toward completing such degree program, provided that
the
student maintains continuous enrollment
. The Counc
il shall report its finding
s
to the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education,
the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and
the Senate Committee on Financ
e and Appropriations no later than November
30
, 2026.