Winthrop University is reducing tuition as other colleges could continue freeze

ROCK HILL — While South Carolina’s public universities have held in-state tuition rates steady for five years, thanks to additional funding from the Legislature, one college is actually preparing to lower its rates starting this fall in an effort to draw more students.

Winthrop University announced an 8% tuition reduction for all undergraduates enrolled full time at the Rock Hill college.

“This is a bold move we are confident in making,” university President Edward Serna said in a statement.

Serna said the effort brings Winthrop’s tuition more in line with what other colleges in the state charge. The school has historically had the highest tuition rate of any public university in South Carolina.

At the same time, Winthrop has been struggling with declining enrollment — down by more than 600 students between 2013 and 2023, according to data from the state higher education agency. The school has a little over 3,400 undergraduates enrolled for the current school year.

The school’s governing board approved the initiative last week during its annual retreat.

Students enrolled in 12 to 18 credit hours’ worth of classes will qualify for the reduced rate. For those taking fewer classes, charges will be prorated on a per-credit hour basis.

“We know additional and more substantial measures are needed to control tuition and fees going forward,” said Serna, who became president of his alma mater in 2022. “This Tuition Transparency Initiative is Winthrop’s answer to helping students find a way to college at a price that is affordable.”

Winthrop will re-evaluate the program ahead of the 2025-2026 school year.

South Carolina’s other public colleges are likely to hold tuition rates for in-state students steady for a sixth consecutive year in 2024-25. The state budget proposal approved by the House earlier this month sends them a combined $57.5 million additional in exchange for another year without a tuition hike for South Carolina students.

The House proposal also includes $3 million for an independent study of the state’s 33 two- and four-year public colleges and their sustainability, as requested by Gov. Henry McMaster. Tough questions the review is supposed to answer include whether campuses and programs should be consolidated. One example floated by the governor’s office was whether Winthrop should become part of the University of South Carolina system.

A final state budget package is still months away.

Trustees at other public colleges may wait until after that’s wrapped up to set tuition rates.