The LMU Board of Trustees has approved its fiscal year 2026-27 operating budget, including undergraduate tuition and student housing rates for the upcoming academic year. The budget reflects continued investment in financial aid, faculty and staff compensation, academic programs, student support services, and campus infrastructure, while also incorporating university-wide cost containment measures.
Tuition and Housing
For the 2026-27 academic year, undergraduate tuition will be $68,042, a 5.54% increase over the current year. Student housing rates will increase by an average of 5%.
Updated graduate tuition rates, along with a complete schedule of tuition, housing, dining, and parking rates, will be available through LMU Student Accounts this summer.
Financial Aid and Affordability
The university continues to expand institutional financial aid to support student access and affordability.
Today, 90% of LMU undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. Last year, LMU awarded more than $192 million in grants and scholarships, including:
- $142 million directly to undergraduate students;
- $18.2 million in federal and state grants; and
- more than $6.4 million in work-study awards.
As part of the 2026-27 budget, LMU is increasing institutional financial aid by an additional $2.8 million to support incoming students.
The university also continues to grow its scholarship resources through philanthropy and long-term endowment growth. Across LMU, donor support has helped establish 605 endowed scholarships, representing more than $350 million in scholarship endowment funds that support students across the university. LMU’s ongoing comprehensive campaign has further strengthened this foundation, contributing 111 new endowed scholarships and nearly $150 million in scholarship support to date.
Investing in Faculty, Staff, and the Student Experience
LMU is in the third year of its Multi-Year Compensation Initiative, which is designed to move faculty and staff salaries toward the 75th percentile of peer-market compensation levels.
To date, the university has invested more than $7.7 million in the initiative, and approximately 61% of faculty and staff are now at or within the targeted compensation ranges. A recent benchmarking analysis also found that LMU’s overall employee benefits program remains above the median value among peer institutions.
In addition to compensation and financial aid investments, the 2026-27 budget includes support for:
- expanded academic advising and student success services;
- additional opportunities for student research and research training;
- student mental health and care-coordination services;
- classroom and instructional technology upgrades;
- accessibility improvements and academic support tools; and
- campus infrastructure, safety, and facilities improvements.
Recent and ongoing projects include upgrades to audio-visual systems in instructional spaces, the addition of a new general-purpose classroom in University Hall, escalator modernization, HVAC and mechanical upgrades, pedestrian pathway repairs, and campus-wide testing of fire and life-safety systems.
Stewardship and Cost Management
Alongside these investments, the university continues efforts to manage costs and improve operational efficiency.
Over the past year, LMU has limited discretionary spending, streamlined selected operations and organizational structures, and made greater use of existing facilities and resources. These efforts are intended to help manage inflationary pressures and contractual obligations while sustaining investments in financial aid, compensation, academics, and student support.
The university’s audited financial statements are publicly available as part of LMU’s ongoing commitment to transparency and responsible stewardship.
Looking Ahead
The approved budget reflects Loyola Marymount University’s continued focus on academic excellence, student support, access and affordability, and long-term institutional sustainability.
Recognizing the financial pressures facing students and families, LMU is committed to moderating future tuition increases in the coming years. The university will continue to pursue additional savings, repurpose existing resources, and identify operational efficiencies that help reduce the need for higher rate increases while sustaining investments in financial aid, academic quality, student support, and the campus experience.
Additional information regarding tuition and student accounts will be shared with students and families through LMU Student Accounts and related university offices in the coming months.