Morgan State University students are voicing concerns after the university confirmed a 2% increase in tuition, housing, and meal plan costs for the 2025–26 academic year.

The announcement came on Oct. 20, 2025, sparking frustration among many students who say the additional costs will place a heavier burden on those already struggling to afford college.

“I think it’s a little bit insane,” said Tory Childs, a sophomore multimedia journalism major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“We pay a lot to be here, especially as out-of-state students. Raising tuition will be extremely hard on us.”

Chad Cholemanlych, a junior information systems major from Brooklyn, New York, shared similar concerns.

“It puts Morgan in a rough spot because Morgan has been known as one of the most affordable public HBCUs that provides a lot of opportunities,” he said. “With the rise in tuition, it takes away some of those opportunities.”

Others see the increase as inevitable.

“It’s a necessary evil, given the current state of the economy,” said Darrien Cunningham, a junior English major from Baltimore. “With everything going up, you have to take it for what it is.”

The tuition hike comes as Morgan recently received a record $63 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest individual gift in the university’s history.

Scott previously gave $40 million to Morgan in 2020, and university officials have said the tuition increase was planned well before the most recent donation.

“I don’t understand the reason for the increase,” said Jayla Rennocks, a freshman strategic communication major from Queens, New York.

“Unless we’re going to see improvements in buildings or equipment, I don’t see a need. I actually had a feeling tuition would go up after the donation was made.”

Students also pointed to ongoing financial aid delays as a source of frustration. Some reported still waiting on refund checks after midterms and Homecoming.

“It will definitely affect your refund check and how much you get back,” said Jocelynn Brown, a freshman computer science major from Frederick, Maryland.

“Students will probably have to apply for additional FAFSA aid, something the school doesn’t really have control over.”

Nnaemeka Onugbolu, a sophomore mechatronic engineering major from Nigeria, said he wasn’t surprised by the change.

“Obviously, I’m not too happy about the increase,” he said. “But with the cost of everything else going up, I figured it would happen eventually.”

Morgan State’s current enrollment stands at 11,559 students, and it remains unclear how the tuition increase will affect future enrollment numbers.