Auburn University Board Approves 3% Tuition Increase for 2025-26 Academic Year

Auburn University Board of Trustees Approves Tuition Increase for 2025-26 Academic Year

On September 6, 2024, the Auburn University Board of Trustees made a significant decision to raise tuition by 3% for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. This adjustment reflects ongoing financial pressures faced by the institution.

New Tuition Rates

With the updated tuition structure, undergraduate students at Auburn will now pay $473 per credit hour, leading to an annual total of $13,268 for tuition and fees. For out-of-state undergraduate students, the cost rises to $1,419 per credit hour, amounting to $35,972 annually.

At Auburn University Montgomery (AUM), undergraduate residents will see tuition set at $379 per credit hour, totaling $12,298 per year, while out-of-state AUM students will pay $850 per credit hour, resulting in an annual cost of $26,428.

Housing and Dining Plan Increases

In addition to tuition hikes, the board also approved a 3% increase in housing costs and adjustments to dining plans at Auburn’s main campus. The new dining rates for the 2025-26 academic year are as follows:

• Orange Plan: $1,530 per semester (first-time and first-year students)
• Blue Plan: $1,020 per semester (sophomores and above living on campus)
• White Plan: $425 per semester (sophomores and above living off-campus)

AUM will not see any increases in housing or dining charges this year.

Financial Context

Kelli Shomaker, Auburn’s senior vice president for business and administration and chief financial officer, addressed the reasons behind the tuition increase. She cited inflation, workforce pressures, and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, though she did not provide specific details on pandemic-related costs.

This year, the Auburn University System is expected to receive $389 million from the state’s Education Trust Fund, representing an increase of approximately $27 million (7.45%) from the previous fiscal year. However, Shomaker emphasized that this boost in state funding will not be sufficient to cover the university’s rising operational costs.

Budget Breakdown

Auburn’s total budget for 2025 is projected at $1.85 billion, with $1.589 billion allocated to the main campus and $120 million directed toward AUM. Tuition and fees account for 42.5% of the university’s revenue, while state appropriations contribute 21%. Additionally, salaries and wages comprise 40.4% of total budget expenses.

This tuition increase follows a similar 3% hike approved by the Board of Trustees in August 2023. For the 2024-25 academic year, tuition and fees for undergraduate resident students at Auburn are set at $6,445 per semester, while non-resident students will face charges of $17,461. For AUM, resident students will pay $368 per credit hour, while non-resident students will pay $825 per credit hour.