3 days ago
University of Memphis to increase tuition by almost 5% for upcoming school year
In-state University of Memphis students will be paying more for tuition and mandatory fees for the upcoming school year.
The increase, voted on by the University of Memphis Board of Trustees on June 4, is 4.92%. For a typical 15-hour course load per semester for undergraduate students, the increase will equate to $264.
The university said in a press release the decision to raise tuition comes in response to rising operational costs.
"This increase reflects our ongoing commitment to preserving academic excellence and student success while maintaining affordability," said Board of Trustees President Cato Johnson in a statement. "We are making targeted investments that will strengthen the student experience and prepare our graduates for success.'
The university said the revenue from the additional tuition costs will help "support a range of University priorities."
Some of the specific reasons are:
The launch of a new Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the Lambuth Campus, set to begin in fall 2026;
The launch of The Polytechnic @ UofM Initiative, focused on workforce needs in applied technology fields such as advanced manufacturing, applied cybersecurity, applied artificial intelligence, and organizational leadership;
Needed staffing and operational support for the university's new University Crime Information Center;
Expanded programming in the division of student affairs and renewed funding for the office of first-generation student success, which lost federal support this year; and
Cost increases tied to software, utilities and property insurance.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has to approve tuition increases above 6.5%, but since the university's increase is below that, the move does not have to be approved.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the cost of tuition at public 4-year institutions increased 36.7% from 2010 to 2023.
Brooke Muckerman covers education and children's issues for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: University of Memphis increasing tuition for upcoming school year
