Lander University issued the following announcement on September 15.
The Lander University Board of Trustees voted Tuesday (Sept. 14) to freeze tuition and general fees for the 2022-23 academic year.
The unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees marks seven consecutive years that Lander’s tuition has remained a steady $5,350 per semester ($10,700 annually) for full-time, in-state undergraduate students. General fees, set in 2017 at $500 per semester ($1,000 annually), will not increase.
Trustees also voted to reduce tuition for first responders and other emergency services personnel enrolled in Lander’s nationally recognized Emergency Preparedness Program to $363 per credit hour for both undergraduate and graduate students.
“Our Board of Trustees remains committed to keeping higher education affordable and accessible to Lander students, 91 percent of whom are from South Carolina,” said Dr. Richard Cosentino, Lander University president. “Their decision falls in line with the S.C. General Assembly’s desire that a college education is attainable for students throughout the Palmetto State.”
The freeze comes at a time when Lander is experiencing exceptional growth. The University recently announced a record enrollment of 3,839 students – a 9.3 percent increase over Fall 2020 and the highest-ever enrollment in the institution’s history. Over the past seven years, enrollment has climbed 42 percent.
“Parents and students appreciate that Lander is able to offer outstanding academic and student life experiences,” Cosentino said. “Lander has become a university of choice for students.”
Donald H. Scott, chair of Lander’s Board of Trustees, said the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic were a factor in the board’s decision.
“Lander’s Trustees realize that many students and families are experiencing financial hardships related to the pandemic. We do not want any students to forego a college education and the opportunities it affords because of costs,” he said.
“Dr. Cosentino’s vision to grow the University and expand our academic programs for young people has been critical in our ability to attract outstanding students to our campus,” Scott added. “As Lander prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2022, the Board of Trustees wants to provide the foundation on which our students can build their future careers and not be hindered by crushing student loan debt.”
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