The Citadel Board of Visitors released the 2019-2020 academic year tuition rates earlier than usual, and with an increase that is lower than the projected Higher Education Price Index rate. The Commonfund Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), an inflation index designed to track cost drivers in higher education, projects a 2.8 percent increase nationally. Tuition for both in- and out-of-state cadets at The Citadel will increase 2.5 percent.

“The Board of Visitors determined that while a modest tuition increase is necessary, the on-going efforts to control costs and increase efficiency across campus support a raise of 2.5 percent, rather than the higher national projection for all institutions,” said Col. Fred L. Price, Jr., chair, The Citadel Board of Visitors. “We made the decision to set the tuition rates now to give cadets, students, and their families more time to plan as they apply for financial assistance or make decisions about what college or graduate college to attend.”

The Board of Visitors and college leadership continuously assess ways to improve operational efficiency while supporting the college’s mission to educate and develop principled leaders. The Citadel is one of the only two remaining 24/7 military institutions for undergraduates, aside from the federal academies.

“The Board of Visitors is to be commended for keeping tuition as low as possible without compromising the quality of The Citadel experience,” said Gen. Glenn Walters, USMC, president of The Citadel. “The high number of applicants makes it clear that a Citadel education provides a value that resonates strongly with families across America.”

How The Citadel “all-in” pricing works

When comparing college tuition rates, it is important to note that The Citadel’s fee structure is different because the costs of room and board and multiple sets of military uniforms comprise the overall “all-in” rate. This is because members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets─ the undergraduate population─ must live in the barracks, eat all meals in the mess hall, and wear uniforms while on campus. Laundry, dry-cleaning, and books are also included in the all-in rate, with those costs calculated as part of each cadet’s Quartermaster Account. The all-in rate does not include other items such as lab fees that vary according to the academic major or schedule of each cadet or student.

The costs of attendance for the 2019-20 academic year are below. Freshman year charges are higher because of first-year uniform purchases.

The Board of Visitors also approved an increase of 2.5 percent for Evening Undergraduate Program students managed by The Citadel Graduate College. That represents a raise of about $12 per hour for in-state and $23 per credit hour for out-of-state Evening Undergraduate Program students. Graduate level students in on-campus and online programs will not see an increase.

Many of The Citadel’s programs are supported through the generosity of alumni and donors, as funding from the State of South Carolina currently provides only about 7 percent of the college’s operating budget. Still, the cadet and student experiences continue to evolve, and outcomes continue to surpass national averages supported by increased academic offerings and alumni salary rates. The Citadel is the #1 Public College in the South as ranked by U.S. News & World Report for the eighth consecutive year based on such criteria.