Belmont Abbey College says it's reducing the cost of its tuition beginning in fall 2013, a move school officials say is designed to increase accessibility to the school.
    
The Charlotte Observer reports the school announced Wednesday that tuition will drop from $27,622 a year to $18,500 a year.
    
School officials said that with 1,700 students, Belmont Abbey is at record enrollment. President William Thierfelder said in a news release that the decision to reduce tuition is a strategic move toward providing an outstanding private college education at an affordable price.
    
The college cited a College Board poll of college-bound seniors this year that found more than half had ruled out colleges on sticker price alone without considering potential financial aid.