UVI President Dr. Safiya George. Photo Credit: V.I. LEGISLATURE.
~George Apologizes for Delayed Notice~
CHARLOTTE AMALIE--Full-time undergraduate tuition at the University of the Virgin Islands will rise by roughly 56 percent beginning in the Spring 2027 semester for students attending traditional on-campus classes, with UVI President Dr. Safiya George acknowledging that the change should have been communicated to students and their families sooner.
For in-territory students, full-time tuition will increase from $2,650 per semester this fall to US $4,125 in Spring 2027, an increase of $1,475, or approximately 55.7 percent.
Caribbean students will see tuition rise from $4,638 to $7,218.75, an increase of $2,580.75, or approximately 55.6 percent. Out-of-territory tuition will climb from $7,950 to $12,421.95, an increase of $4,471.95, or approximately 56.3 percent.
The increases apply to full-time undergraduate students taking traditional, on-the-ground courses below UVI’s overload threshold. The university emphasized that its currently established per-credit tuition rates will not increase again for Spring 2027.
Undergraduate per-credit rates will remain $275 for in-territory students, $481.25 for Caribbean students and $828.13 for out-of-territory students. Graduate tuition will also remain unchanged at $500 per credit for in-territory students, $875 for Caribbean students and $952.47 for out-of-territory students.
UVI said the published full-time tuition figures do not necessarily reflect what individual students will ultimately pay out of pocket. Financial responsibility will vary depending on residency classification, course enrollment, scholarships, grants, financial aid and other forms of assistance.
The university attributed the higher Spring 2027 full-time tuition rates to increasing instructional and operating expenses, saying additional revenue is needed to maintain academic programs, student services and other institutional resources.
George acknowledged concerns surrounding the size of the increase while also apologizing for how long it took the university to clearly communicate the impact of the Board’s earlier action.
“We understand that any increase in the cost of a college education can create real concerns for our students and their families,” George said. “We recognize that the June 2026 Board action clarifying the full-time, on-the-ground tuition rates for Spring 2027 should have been communicated sooner, and we apologize for the delay.”
George said UVI had spent much of the intervening period focused on its accreditation process, completing required financial audits and providing weekly updates to students while simultaneously preparing for the Spring 2027 semester.
UVI remains accredited while operating under a Show Cause status issued by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The university submitted its required Show Cause Report on September 1 as part of its effort to demonstrate compliance with standards related to financial planning, resources, governance and oversight.
Against that backdrop, UVI said it is attempting to increase the financial assistance available to students affected by the new tuition rates.
The university is encouraging students to complete UVI’s scholarship application by November 1, with additional institutional and local scholarship funding expected to be made available. Eligible U.S. students are also being encouraged to complete the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student
