Colleges Cut Tuition to Attract Students
Emory & Henry and Prescott College are slashing tuition for Fall 2026 as enrollment pressures reshape how private schools price their degrees.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in College Applications
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Emory & Henry University in Virginia halved its annual tuition from $40,000 to $19,900 for Fall 2026, while Prescott College in Arizona cut its on-campus undergraduate tuition by nearly 56% to $15,000. Several other private colleges, including the University of Tulsa and Coe College, have announced similar reductions taking effect in fall 2027.
Why it matters
The tuition cuts are being driven by a decline in new student enrollment and a shrinking pool of applicants, prompting schools to abandon the high-tuition, high-aid pricing model. For families weighing college costs across the country, the moves signal a shift toward more transparent upfront pricing.
Emory & Henry University charged $40,000 in annual tuition before cutting it to $19,900 for Fall 2026. Prescott College's on-campus undergraduate tuition is now $15,000, a reduction of nearly 56%.
The players
Emory & Henry University
A private liberal arts university in Virginia that halved its annual tuition for Fall 2026.
Prescott College
A small liberal arts college in Arizona that cut its on-campus undergraduate tuition by nearly 56%.
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
A regional interstate compact that forecasts a drop of nearly 500,000 college-aged high school graduates by 2041.
The details
Colleges are reducing both sticker prices and scholarship offers to present a more transparent upfront cost to students. The University of Tulsa will cut costs by nearly 54% to $25,000 starting in fall 2027, while Coe College and Carroll College will drop their fees to $31,850 and $26,800 respectively.
Timeline
Fall 2026: Emory & Henry and Prescott College tuition cuts take effect.
Fall 2027: Tulsa, Coe, Carroll and Concordia tuition cuts take effect.
2033: The U.S. population of 18-year-olds is projected to begin declining.
2039: The 18-year-old population could shrink by 650,000 people, about 15%.
2041: Nearly 500,000 fewer college-aged high school graduates are forecast.
Big Picture
The tuition cuts respond to the demographic decline the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education forecasts, with nearly 500,000 fewer college-aged graduates expected by 2041. Schools are now turning that projected shortfall into concrete pricing decisions, with private colleges averaging $45,000 in tuition by 2025-26.
Families comparing private colleges may find the sticker price gap narrowing, with some schools now listing tuition near $15,000 to $26,800. Students should compare net costs and scholarship offers, since the reductions also come alongside changes to aid packages.
The takeaway
Families should compare the net price after scholarships rather than relying on sticker tuition alone, since colleges are reshaping both. Checking how a school's new price compares to its aid offer can reveal the real cost of attendance.
What happens next
Tulsa, Coe, Carroll and Concordia tuition reductions take effect in fall 2027, and the 18-year-old population is projected to begin declining in 2033.
Further reading
For more on how families navigate these choices, see College Applications coverage across the U.S.
Source note: This article includes information reported by VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam.
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