During a special meeting of the Coastal Carolina University board of trustees on May 15, the board approved a motion to freeze tuition, housing costs, and meal plans at the current level for the 2021-2022 academic year for all in-state and out-of-state students. Trustees had already taken action on freezing the same costs for the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year in its regular board meeting on May 8.

"Our board of trustees is fully committed to maintaining stable financial plans that our students and their families can count on," said University President David A. DeCenzo, Ph.D. "Knowing they can budget for no increases in tuition, housing, or meal plans for the next two years at CCU is essential, now more than ever."

"We want to ensure that CCU remains an affordable choice and a great value for students," said William Biggs, chairman of the board of trustees. "It is our hope this commitment to hold steady on these education costs opens their eyes to the great opportunities available to them at Coastal Carolina University."

The action keeps tuition at $5,820 per semester for in-state students and $13,697 per semester for out-of-state students for the next two academic years. This maintains CCU's annual tuition below the state average of $12,268 for in-state students and $27,399 for out-of-state students at four-year public institutions.

Housing fees have remained stable at CCU since a refinance plan was initiated in 2014, and a $75 per semester housing credit implemented during the 2017-2018 academic year will continue for both the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years.

Upon DeCenzo's recommendation, trustees also approved a 20 percent reduction ($70,000) of the president's discretionary fund for FY 2020-21 over the budgeted amount for the previous year, which will result in a $280,000 discretionary fund for the upcoming fiscal year.