Blackburn College
Extraordinary Educational Value
Blackburn College provides an EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATIONAL VALUE! Blackburn has always been committed to providing affordable education, and now, in response to universal concerns about the rising costs of a college education, Blackburn will restructure tuition charges and institutional financial assistance programs that will allow tuition charges to future students to be lowered by $2,270. The lower tuition rate will simplify college financing and make a Blackburn education even more affordable, and accessible, to students at all income levels.
Q and A
WHY IS BLACKBURN COLLEGE REDUCING TUITION CHARGES?
While most colleges and universities are cutting financial assistance programs and raising tuition and fees, Blackburn College will move in the opposite direction in order to responsibly address the issue of financial access to quality in higher education. For the 2008-2009 academic year, Blackburn College will reduce tuition for new students by approximately 15%. The reduction in tuition charges demonstrates Blackburn’s commitment to its mission of keeping a quality private education accessible and affordable. In addition, future Blackburn students will benefit from a straightforward, “no haggle” approach to financial assistance and the cost of tuition.
WHAT WILL BE THE TUITION CHARGE FOR THE 2008-2009 ACADEMIC YEAR?
Blackburn College annual tuition charges for new students will decrease from the current annual charge of $15,770 to $13,500 for the 2008-2009 academic year. Returning students will continue on the current tuition price and financial assistance programs.
HOW CAN BLACKBURN AFFORD TO REDUCE TUITION?
First, Blackburn students help keep the College’s operational costs low through participation in the Work Program and for their work they receive at least $2400, in the form of a tuition credit, to help meet expenses. Second, by restructuring our financial aid policy and eliminating a complicated approach to financial aid, we can reduce tuition costs and provide future students with a more clear and direct system for understanding tuition charges and the value of a Blackburn education. Research shows that many prospective students and families find the current system of tuition and financial aid eligibility to be complicated and unclear. Our goal is to make college costs not only more affordable but also easier to understand.
WILL THE NEW TUITION PRICING INITITIVE REQUIRE BLACKBURN TO CUT ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OR SERVICES TO STUDENTS?
No academic programs or student service programs will be cut as a result of the tuition reduction. The new tuition pricing model will allow us to enhance net revenues and continue our strategic growth that has included adding new academic programs in Communications, Criminal Justice and Performing Arts, a 12% enrollment increase and approximately $20 million in new facilities construction and improvements since 1999.
In fact, the tuition reduction is fiscally responsible, demonstrating to students and parents that a Blackburn education is accessible and an extraordinary value. We anticipate that the program will be particularly attractive to families of first-generation college students and to families who do not qualify for need based financial assistance.
WILL NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE WITH THE NEW TUITION CHARGE?
Yes. Federal and State need-based grant assistance programs will continue to be available to qualified students at the new tuition level. However, Blackburn will no longer provide institutional need-based aid for new students. We are moving away from the vicious cycle of awarding need-based institutional aid to offset tuition increases. The lowered tuition charge makes this possible.
WILL MERIT-BASED AID BE AVAILABLE WITH THE NEW TUITION CHARGE?
Yes. Merit-based aid will be available to new students that meet specific qualification based on demonstrated academic performance in high school irrespective of expected family financial contributions determined by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Merit-based financial assistance will be awarded to deserving students to serve as recognition and reward for the student’s past academic accomplishments. Merit-based assistance will be renewable based on continued academic, work and social accomplishments while enrolled at Blackburn. Most recipients of these awards will find that their net costs to attend Blackburn will be as affordable as the net direct costs of attending four-year publicly supported institutions.
WILL LOWER TUITION CHARGES IMPACT THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL AND STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE A STUDENT WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE?
No. In fact, the lower tuition charges will help to maximize the impact of federal and state aid toward the net direct costs that students will pay for a quality private education.