NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. (WFFT) — Manchester University President Dave McFadden announced Monday that the school is freezing undergraduate tuition for the 2021-22 school year.

McFadden says this is another step Manchester is taking to ensure affordability and predictability for students and families.

"We understand that the pandemic and related economic uncertainties are creating financial anxiety for many students and their families. By announcing our tuition decision now, we can help ease those concerns and allow everyone to plan for the academic year ahead. This tuition freeze is simply the right thing to do for our students and their families,” McFadden explained . “Our students – many of whom are the first in their family to go to college – work hard to pay for their education. Every dollar matters. By freezing tuition for a year, we make it that much easier to fulfill our mission of graduating people of ability and conviction who will go on to make a positive difference in the world.”

All undergraduate students at Manchester receive financial aid, according to the university and it ranks among the best in the state and nation for providing financial aid.

The tuition freeze applies to all undergraduate students, as well as students in the Master of Athletic Training, Master of Accountancy and Master of Pharmacogenomics programs.

Students in MU's Pharmacy Program will see a 1% tuition increase, which is in line with other pharmacy programs across the nation.

For this year’s first-year students, Manchester offered the Spartan 2020 Response to COVID-19, which eliminated out-of-pocket tuition expenses for about 100 first-year students.