Affordability
“We want our students to be both academically and financially prepared when they graduate from college.” – Former President Sheila Bair
Making college affordable achieves more than just lowering your student debt. After graduation, your student debt shouldn’t have to compete with thoughts about attending graduate school, buying your first home, having a family or saving for retirement. Washington College wants students to understand that entry into the real world involves planning for those turning points in your life. Our affordability programs could help.
Washington College’s teacher-to-student ratios, small class sizes, hands-on learning, one-on-one faculty mentoring, and post-graduate career and graduate school placement is the best way to provide high-quality undergraduate education. In fact, Washington College is considered a national top 100 liberal arts college for affordability and academic quality by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. We are committed to finding creative, realistic ways to make this education more affordable and accessible for everyone.
Value
Washington College wants to make a real world, high-quality, liberal arts undergraduate education more affordable – plus alleviate the burden of student debt. Download a PDF of our value guide.
FixedFor4
Financially plan with certainty. Beginning fall of 2017, your tuition is FixedFor4. Know precisely how much your tuition will cost at Washington College all four years with FixedFor4. Compared to the average 3.5% annual tuition hikes seen at other colleges nationwide, your approximate savings over four years here will be $9,394 because of the protection provided by FixedFor4.
For FixedFor4 guidelines and requirements, click here!
Dam the Debt
As part of her initiative to make a private liberal arts college education more affordable, Former President Sheila Bair sought to adjust the financial aid award for every senior carrying debt at the time of graduation. At its inaugural year (2016 graduates), Dam the Debt reduced federal subsidized loans by approximately 10%. Dam the Dept is a donor-funded grant that can reduce student borrowing. Aid amounts are dependent on donations.
Saver’s Scholarship
An initiative toward making college more affordable, the Saver’s Scholarship will reward families who have saved money for their children’s education. Students receive a saver’s credit on their financial aid award that matches, up to $2,500 per year, starting their second year, to pay for tuition. Students who qualify for the Saver’s Scholarship can still pursue other types of scholarship aid from both WC and elsewhere.
Scholarships
Washington College recognizes and rewards exemplary academic achievement. More than 50% of all Washington College students qualify for a merit-based tuition scholarship at the time of their admission to the College. In 2016/2017 WC granted $27 million in financial aid.
George’s Brigade
Through a donation-based scholarship program, George’s Brigade seeks to work with high-potential, high-need students whose families would otherwise not have the resources to pay for a private liberal arts education.