The college cut the cost of attendance in half for N.C. residents, making the total cost of attendance $9,000 per year, down from $19,500. The new tuition cost will take effect next fall.
The Laurinburg school cited lower student enrollment, higher tuition rates and lack of exposure as factors contributing to the decision. The cuts make St. Andrews' cost close to most UNC-system schools for in-state students.
St. Andrews officials said they hope the college will now be better able to compete with bigger schools.
"The idea is to give students more options," said Peggy Crawford, St. Andrews vice president of admissions and student financial planning.
Crawford said the tuition cuts will make the school more accessible to students. She said she hopes the lower cost, combined with smaller class sizes and top-notch career services, will attract more N.C. residents who might otherwise choose cheaper a public university. "We want to highlight things that would be an advantage (at St. Andrews)."
Crawford said she did not know whether other private colleges and universities in the state would follow suit, but that she hoped they would.
Financial restrictions are often cited as major reasons why students choose public institutions over private ones, especially in North Carolina where in-state tuition is usually far below peer institutions nationwide.
Hope Williams, president of the N.C. Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said many parents and students base decisions solely on the "sticker price" of a school.
Williams said most do not take into consideration the N.C. General Assembly's appropriation of $9,000 in financial aid to each in-state student.
