West Virginia University at Parkersburg approves modest tuition increase
On March 17 at a Board of Governors meeting, West Virginia University at Parkersburg approved an increase in tuition for in-state students and salary increases for some employees, among other items.
The Board of Governors at West Virginia University at Parkersburg has recently approved an increase to the price of tuition, as well as the budget for the institution’s 2026-2027 fiscal year, and a new academic program. This all occurred at the meeting on March 17, 2026.
The 2.5% increase of tuition for in-state students was approved unanimously by the board. This is the first change in tuition pricing after a period of steady rates. The new rate equals an extra $4 per credit hour for lower level classes, and $7 per credit hour for higher level classes. The tuition costs for out-of-state students have not been altered.
In an article posted on WVU at Parkersburg’s website, Chief Financial Officer Bradley Wilson was quoted about the reasoning behind the price hike, including rising operational costs, while reiterating the organization’s desire to keep the cost of education affordable for students, saying, “This is a modest increase, but it helps us cover rising costs while remaining one of the most affordable institutions in the state.”
The university also noted that while it did increase its costs, it is still one of the cheaper options for higher education in West Virginia when it comes to community and technical colleges.
The Board of Governors also approved the upcoming year’s fiscal budget, which aims to continue the organization’s stable finances, while also investing in operations and employees.
A notable part of the budget is that many employees will be seeing an increase in their salaries to the tune of $1,300 per year. This wage increase is supported partly by funding from the state. West Virginia’s higher education funding formula was fully funded for the first time since its inception, according to school officials.
The board also approved the start of a new associate of applied science in cloud computing degree, which was constructed with the current state of the tech sector in mind.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at WVU Parkersburg, Dr. David Lancaster, spoke on the program. He noted that it was designed with regional workforce needs in mind, and will support the growth in enrollment that the school has been seeing for the past ten semesters in a row.
Another item the board approved was the dissolution of the associate of applied science in drafting program. The discontinuation of the program was the result of a review process that had been ongoing for years.
Dr. Lancaster noted that the program had been phased out already, and that it had seen no new students since 2024. Students who were enrolled in the program were given the chance to complete their degree, and all faculty were reassigned to other programs at the school.
The board also voted to update certain fees specific to some of the school’s courses. Most of these changes were due to the rising cost of instructional equipment and other materials, and required testing. Other new fees were implemented to help fund new programs.
A number of institutional policies were either advanced or updated, largely relating to campus operations, academic credentials, employment practices, ethics and conflicts of interest, and board governance.
President Dr. Torie Jackson presented a report to the board in which she focused on continuing progress in strategic priorities like the ongoing development of the University’s Innovation and Technology Center, a disciplined approach to policy updates, and efforts to improve student retention.
Dr. Jackson also made sure to point out the necessity of the center as an investment in the long term benefit of both the region and the school: “The ITC is about what happens inside that space. It’s about creating a place where education, workforce and innovation are connected in a way that makes sense for this region.”
Dr. Jackson then went on to talk about how the school plans to focus on increasing student enrollment and access, especially when it comes to the Jackson County Center.
She also pointed out that the school is working on increasing its visibility to more potential students thereby building a stronger pathway to higher education in West Virginia. She said, “We are focused on creating pathways that lead somewhere meaningful and making sure every student who comes through our doors has the opportunity to build something better.”
West Virginia University at Parkersburg will hold its next Board of Governors meeting on April 21, 206.
More information about West Virginia University at Parkersburg can be found at the school’s website.