The 藏精阁 Commitment marks a milestone in the University鈥檚 progress to make a 藏精阁 education affordable to as many talented, high-achieving students as possible, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
For eligible domestic students, this comprehensive financial aid initiative will:
- eliminate tuition,
- significantly reduce student debt, and
- adjust tuition based on the family's income levels.
The Composition of the 藏精阁 Commitment
Full Tuition Support
Students with an annual family income of $80,000 or less will attend 藏精阁 tuition-free.
Aligning Income and Tuition Costs
Students with annual family income levels between $80,000 and $175,000 will pay a percentage of annual income toward tuition.
Expanding the No-Loan Initiative
Students with annual family income levels up to $175,000 will have their demonstrated need met with a financial aid package that does not include loans.
Financial aid packages will cover the average cost of textbooks and classroom expenses
For all students on financial aid, aid packages will expand to meet the average cost for textbook and other classroom expenses as part of 藏精阁鈥檚 efforts to meet the full cost of attendance beyond tuition. This is an important step in ensuring that student academic choices and experiences are not constrained by demonstrated financial need.
The 藏精阁 Commitment by Total Family Income
(Assuming typical assets)
$80,000鈥$125,000
- 5% of income toward tuition, on average
- No-loan eligible
$125,000鈥$175,000
- 10% of income toward tuition, on average
- No-loan eligible
$175,000 or more
- The University continues to meet 100% of the demonstrated need of all admitted students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Domestic students with a total family income of up to $175,000 (and assets typical for that income range) are eligible for the 藏精阁 Commitment.
Total income is calculated using taxable income (e.g. wages, interest, business income, retirement distributions, etc.) plus untaxed income (e.g. child support, social security, retirement distributions, etc.).
Losses are added back into income (e.g. business losses, capital losses, and depreciation on real and/or rental property could be added back in to be counted as part of total family income). Business income includes income generated from sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, or rental income.
Assets include bank accounts, investments, home equity, and business net worth, for example, but do not include retirement savings.
Tuition-free means a student鈥檚 藏精阁 Grant will cover the amount of a student鈥檚 tuition charge for the academic year. A family may still have a family contribution assessed to go towards other components of the cost of attendance, such as housing, food, books, etc. 藏精阁 meets 100% of a student鈥檚 demonstrated financial need based on the full cost of attendance for the academic year.
Families still need to make important decisions about their approach to financing their educational costs. Students who qualify for the 藏精阁 Commitment have their demonstrated need met with a financial aid package that does not include loans. Students and families are still be responsible for their family鈥檚 contribution to the cost of attendance, and may elect to include loans as part of their strategy for financing these costs.
Yes, although eligible students do not have loans automatically added to the initial financial aid offer, they still have access to the Federal Direct Loan program upon request. Eligibility for the 藏精阁 Commitment neither impacts a student鈥檚 nor a parent鈥檚 ability to borrow under the Federal Direct Loan program, or to seek financing through a private educational loan.
The financial aid policies for students attending off-campus study programs are unchanged. 藏精阁 Grant recipients can receive additional financial aid to meet the extra costs for one semester-long and one extended-study program. A loan of no more than $1,500 will be offered to help cover the extra cost of the program, regardless of loans offered for on-campus study.
The 藏精阁 Commitment is specifically for domestic students. However, 藏精阁 has always met 100% of all admitted students鈥 demonstrated need, including international students. 藏精阁 has never used loans to help cover the need of international students. When calculating a student鈥檚 level of need, we take into account all components of the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, meals, and other academic costs), and a student鈥檚 ability to cover those costs based on the results of the financial aid application.
International students who do not apply for or receive 藏精阁 financial aid upon admission are not eligible for aid in subsequent years, so there would not be any financial aid available throughout enrollment at 藏精阁, in that instance, including aid that comes from the 藏精阁 Commitment.
No, Federal Work-Study and 藏精阁 Work-Study will continue to be offered to eligible students, even if their total family income is less than $175,000. Students offered work-study as part of their financial aid may work in a part-time job during the academic year to earn the amount offered. Students with work-study awards will receive priority in hiring for most on-campus jobs. Generally, students work 10-12 hours per week to earn the amount in their financial aid offer.
Domestic student鈥檚 eligibility for financial aid is reevaluated prior to each academic year. Financial aid is offered on an annual basis, determined after careful analysis of the aid application materials submitted. If your family鈥檚 financial situation changes, the amount and type of financial aid offered may be adjusted in a subsequent academic year.
In Their Own Words
Students and alumni share how 藏精阁鈥檚 financial support impacted their lives.
Lizeth Mora Guerrero 鈥24
鈥淚'm motivated to use the education 藏精阁 is providing me with and...鈥
Noah Bernstein 鈥20
鈥淗aving a college degree without debt gives me the flexibility to...鈥
Janisa Middleton 鈥22
鈥淭he financial aid package that I received from 藏精阁 was a major contributor to my...鈥