Feature photo by Emily Hawxwell
By Emily Hawxwell
Tuition increase announcement
For many students, tuition plays a major role in deciding which college to attend, and for some at William Peace University, recent cost changes have raised concerns about affordability.
On Tue, Jan. 20, an email was sent out by President Lynn Morton stating that Peace will implement a 4% tuition increase for the 2026-2027 academic year. Housing costs will rise 3.5%, and dining plans will increase by 5%. While the email stated that most students’ current financial aid packages will not be significantly affected, it raised many concerns among students.
Students across campus expressed concern about how they are going to pay for tuition next year, and many worry they will not be able to come back, particularly those who rely on financial aid for support.
“I’m worried that the financial aid won’t be able to cover as much for the cost of tuition,” said Ashe Draxinger, a junior and criminal justice major. “I’ll still be paying more than expected out of pocket. I really want to continue my time at Peace, and I’m afraid that might hinder me moving forward.”
President Morton addressed these student concerns in a follow-up statement.
“We know that any increases can be concerning to students. University leadership takes very seriously our commitment to affordability and access to our distinctive Peace education,” said Morton. “We must balance those efforts with continuous improvement to the student experience in the face of rising costs. As always, we work to increase financial aid and scholarship opportunities through donor and institutional budget support to address individual student financial needs.”
Several students wished the email included more information. Many expressed that they would feel better about the situation if they were given specifics on how their experience on campus would be improved.
“I feel like they’re just increasing the price, and our experience here wouldn’t really change as much. If we’re paying more, I feel like it should,” said Riley Nodelmen, a junior majoring in business administration.
Nicky Taylor, a junior majoring in English and writing, echoed these statements and said the lack of transparency was frustrating, particularly the lack of details on where the tuition increase would be going.
“I wish they would have released more information alongside the announcement, instead of waiting for the student reaction to justify the tuition increase,” said Taylor. “Not providing that alongside the announcement, I feel like it’s very irresponsible from a PR standpoint, and also disrespectful to the students that go here.”
Balancing academics, work, and well-being can be challenging, and students say rising costs add to stress.
“Trying to stay on campus for events and still managing a social life and my mental health, it’s really scary knowing that I’m just gonna have to sacrifice even more things to go here next year,” said Taylor.
Students also feel that the changes may not reflect the students’ needs and interests.
“I think we need to have a better understanding of the student interests on campus and fund the things that students are actually engaged in,” said Taylor. “Whether that be clubs or sort of SGPA events, or more money into improving housing, or better food in the dining hall. We should listen to what the students want first and foremost.”
University responds
According to the university, increases in housing, tuition, and meal plan costs are necessary to continue investing in academic programs, student services, and campus improvements amid the rising cost of resources. They note that similar adjustments occur at most higher education institutions.
The university also expects modest increases throughout the upcoming years to keep up with the rising costs to help the student experience, which will be announced well in advance.
The university has attributed part of the increase to the recent improvements, such as new furniture and flooring in the Belk Dining Hall, an enhanced salad bar, and the relocation and renovation of the Peace Cafe.
Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss their financial aid status if they have questions or concerns. For questions regarding payment plans, they should contact the Office of Student Accounts.
Students are advised to complete the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible, as the Office of Financial Aid will start processing returning student applications in March.
Due to the changes in requirements for the Pell Grant, many students are receiving less financial aid than they previously did.
Students who find themselves affected by this situation are encouraged to complete a Change Appeal Form through the Office of Financial Aid that could help increase financial aid eligibility. This form will be made available to students once they have reviewed their updated financial aid package.
The university is also supporting students through scholarships, such as funds from the Britt Foundation Scholarship, which provides merit and need-based scholarships for current and future Peace students. Students are also encouraged to explore scholarships through iGrad.
Campus forum and next steps
An open forum addressing the increases was held Jan. 21, hosted by the Student Government Programming Association and the senior leadership team. While only four students attended, organizers said discussions were productive and hope to see greater turnouts in the future.
Students with ongoing questions and concerns are encouraged to reach out to the SGPA president Ryan Laraway, who serves as a point of contact between students and administration.
“I am appreciative that we were informed,” said Draxinger. “I think the email was a decent way to go about it, but it still sits weird with me that they didn’t do it directly, face-to-face, [or] talk to us, from my knowledge.”
An online meeting will be held by financial aid on Thursday, Feb. 5, 6-7 p.m., where students and parents can discuss options for financing college and ways students can work on campus in the upcoming year. Sign-up is available through the Pacer Family Portal.