For the first time in nearly two decades Virginia universities will not be increasing tuition for next year. The shift is because of a budget maneuver by lawmakers.

Mallory Noe-Payne reports.

This year lawmakers at the statehouse did something they haven’t done in a long time: upped funding for higher education by a lot. But there was a catch, to qualify for the extra dollars universities had to agree not to raise tuition.

The move seems to have worked.

“I don’t think there’s any institution out there in Virginia that wanted to stand alone and turn down the money because of the message it would be sending,” said James Toscano, president of Partners for College Affordability and Public Trust.

“By putting the consumer first Virginia lawmakers and institutions have really delivered for Virginia students and families,” he added.

Schools that have frozen tuition and mandatory fees for next year: Virginia Tech, University of Mary Washington, University of Virginia, University of Virginia at Wise, Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University, College of William and Mary, Richard Bland College, James Madison University, George Mason University, Norfolk State University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Radford University, Virginia State University.

Longwood University is the only state school whose board hasn’t voted yet on next year’s tuition and fees. They’re expected to vote Saturday.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.