Averett University will reset its tuition for incoming students starting in fall 2026, a move that aims to make the cost of attending college more transparent. It will also start offering automatic admission for some qualifying students to the private university in Danville.
In a release Thursday, the university announced that the move would streamline costs for students by eliminating “confusing ‘scholarships’ and discounted rates that vary from student to student.”
Tuition at the university will drop to about $24,750 per year under the new pricing system, compared to the current “sticker” price of $39,520. After fees — which are also being streamlined — and housing, the total cost of attendance is estimated at $39,960, compared to the old estimate just north of $53,400.
Financial aid information on the school’s website says that, currently, the average scholarship package lowers the cost of attending by “almost 40%” over four years.
“Averett University is in the midst of a complete reconfiguration of our academic and economic models,” Matthew Mann, vice president for enrollment, said in a statement. “This new plan allows us to better serve both our students and prospective students in their search for the best overall college experience. By making the process less complicated, we know that Averett will be viewed as a great option in this search.”
Averett has struggled with cash flow in recent years following the spring 2024 discovery that the university’s endowment had been gutted to pay its bills.
Undergraduate enrollment at Averett fell from about 1,230 in fall 2024 to about 1,050 this fall; it was the first decline after several years of enrollment growth.
Under the new direct admission program, Averett will automatically accept high school seniors on track to graduate with a GPA of at least 2.5 and who have taken at least three high school math courses.
The announcement follows a similar one from Emory & Henry University, which cut its published undergraduate tuition by about half for the upcoming academic year to better reflect what students typically pay after financial aid.
Tuition resets have become a frequent tactic to recruit students as institutions grapple with a declining population of college-age students and changing attitudes around the value of a four-year degree.