FWST: TCU parents, students to see another tuition hike. What's the damage?

[TopFrog]

TCU parents, students to see another tuition hike. What's the damage?​

By Emily Holshouser

For TCU students and their families, the cost of getting a degree is about to get even higher.

At its Nov. 7 meeting, the TCU Board of Trustees approved another increase in tuition, making the school more expensive than some Ivy League universities.

Students and families received an email on Nov. 10 announcing the increase.

How much will TCU tuition increase?​

The board voted at their meeting to increase tuition by 4.75% for the 2026-27 school year, increasing from $63,500, to $66,520.

Since 2015, TCU has raised tuition by more than $20,000. Tuition for the 2015-16 school year was roughly $42,000.

TCU has increased tuition nearly every year over the past decade, except for 2021-22, when tuition was temporarily frozen due to the pandemic. In 2023, following a $1 billion fundraising campaign, parents expressed alarm when tuition for the 2024-25 school year was raised by 7.9% to $61,643 — the biggest increase since 2011.
The average cost of tuition at a private university in 2025-26 is $44,961, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Students in the Neeley School of Business and Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine will also see the increase.

Why is tuition increasing?​

“Most universities raise tuition annually based on inflation, plus rising operational and fixed costs related to student services and campus improvement,” a TCU spokesperson told the Star-Telegram in an e-mail. “This adjustment allows the university to maintain and advance TCU’s standard of excellence in academics and student experience, while addressing economic factors that impact operational costs.”

What about financial aid?​

Need-based financial aid awarded to students who have pre-qualified will also increase by 4.75%, according to the spokesperson. The amount awarded in academic scholarships will not change, unless they are full-tuition awards.

Nearly 80% of TCU’s student body receives some form of financial aid, according to the school. The deadline to apply for federal student aid for next school year is June 30, 2026. TCU recommends that undergraduate students apply by April 15.

In August, TCU announced that beginning next fall, the school will offer free tuition and financial assistance for food and housing to Texas residents who are first-year undergraduates eligible for Pell Grants, from families that earn $70,000 or less.

More expensive than Harvard​

TCU is not among the nation’s most expensive universities overall, but for the 2025-26 school year, tuition was roughly $4,000 more expensive than Harvard’s.

Harvard undergraduate tuition is listed at $59,320, with Princeton costing $65,210, and MIT costing $64,310.
Comparatively, this year’s tuition at SMU is $61,880, Baylor’s is $63,620 and Rice’s is $66,540.

 

[TopFrog]

TCU 360: TCU will no longer hand out official diplomas during commencement ceremonies​

By Pilar Olivas, Senior Writer

Graduation is only a month away for many seniors at TCU, but receiving their diplomas is going to look a little different than in years past.

Starting in December, TCU graduates will find that the diploma covers they receive on stage contain a congratulatory note and information on the mailing of their diplomas.

This decision from the Registrar’s Office is meant to ease the process of completing grades and preparations for commencement ceremonies, Nichole Mancone Fisher, the assistant vice provost and university registrar, said.

Read the rest at https://tcu360.com/2025/11/11/tcu-w...cial-diplomas-during-commencement-ceremonies/

 

[Panther City Frog]

No worries. Just import more Californians.

 

[jack the frog]

No worries. Just import more Californians.

Sell your home. Go to TCU.

 

[HToady]

There is a level of individual that is unfazed at any price. Parents just bought their son a $1.4M house in my neighborhood and he’s only a freshman. These are the people TCU is thinking of when addressing tuition.

 

[Dr. Coach Haus]

There is a level of individual that is unfazed at any price. Parents just bought their son a $1.4M house in my neighborhood and he’s only a freshman. These are the people TCU is thinking of when addressing tuition.

Which sucks for me when working middle-class people like me get squeezed.

 

[Wexahu]

Which sucks for me when working middle-class people like me get squeezed.

The place just oozes entitlement. The cars you see in the parking garages are the most obvious sign but it’s everywhere. Maybe it’s always been like that but at least to me it seems way worse now.

 

[allclearforfrogs]

No worries. Just import more Californians.

Are Texans not as successful as Californians?

 

[Big Frog II]

Some people keep mentioning that TCU's tuition is higher than Harvard. If TCU's endowment was $57 billion like Harvard's we could probably hold the cost down as well.

As for what tuition is going to be I hate how expensive it has gotten, but apparently there are a lot of people who can afford it. Private schools are expensive whether they be high schools or college. There are ways to go to TCU. Either be really poor or really rich. Be really smart or really athletic. Otherwise, get a job there.

 

[Frog45]

It's a beautiful campus and I loved my four years, but I could have gotten the same education at University of North Texas for a 1/4 of the cost.

 

[Dr. Coach Haus]

The place just oozes entitlement. The cars you see in the parking garages are the most obvious sign but it’s everywhere. Maybe it’s always been like that but at least to me it seems way worse now.

Fraternaty wise. It has always been and is even becoming more so with more Californians. Luckily my kid is just happy to have wheels. 2011 Pilot

 

[The Bad Guy]

Can't see many degrees being worth that type of coin.

 

[4 Oaks Frog]

All of my college educated family has graduated from TCU…me, my wife, my kids, my sisters and brothers. I don’t know any of my family that will be able to attend TCU in the future unless they are on a great scholarship.
But tuition at TCU has always been high compared to other schools in Texas (except smu). The $50 per semester hour was at least five times higher than some and about ten times higher than some others. But, a low rate government loan made it possible.
I see no possibilities now…

 

[Dogfrog]

The place just oozes entitlement. The cars you see in the parking garages are the most obvious sign but it’s everywhere. Maybe it’s always been like that but at least to me it seems way worse now.

Was that when you drove over to watch TCU beat SMU?

 

[Wexahu]

Was that when you drove over to the watch TCU beat SMU?

No, it was last Saturday, and pretty much every other Saturday home game for the past decade. I was out of town for the SMU game, I imagine it wasn't much different for that game.

 

[Dogfrog]

No, it was last Saturday, and pretty much every other Saturday home game for the past decade. I was out of town for the SMU game, I imagine it wasn't much different for that game.

You park in the student parking garages?

 

[Wexahu]

You park in the student parking garages?

No, I park on the streets over across from the soccer field. Usually on Hilltop if you want me to be specific. I walk past the Worth Hills parking garage on my way to and from the stadium.

Do you not believe what I'm saying is true or something? That garage is full of $40k+ cars and there are some $70k models in there.

 

[Dogfrog]

No, I park on the streets over across from the soccer field. Usually on Hilltop if you want me to be specific. I walk past the Worth Hills parking garage on my way to and from the stadium.

Do you not believe what I'm saying is true or something? That garage is full of $40k+ cars and there are some $70k models in there.

I believe you. I walk past those garages every game. Just thought you’d have to go in and walk around to view the cars. Guess not.

 

[Wexahu]

I believe you. I walk past those garages every game. Just thought you’d have to go in and walk around to view the cars. Guess not.

Well, I've never gone in and drove around or taken inventory, lol. Let's just say there aren't many 2009 Civics driving through there.

What are we even talking about? Annual cost is >$80k. It's a rich kid school. It is what it is. I suppose if you can afford damn near $100k to send your kid to school for a year, you're not going to give him a $7,500 car to drive around in. Good for them.

Tuition my freshman year was $252/hour if I remember right, which equates to about $7,500/year, and it's not like I was there 50 years ago. Now it's over $2k/hour.

 

[HFrog1999]

It’s ridiculously overpriced and it sucks because most TCU alums can’t afford it.

However, there’s no shortage of people who’ll pay it, so no reason to change