Tuition Advantage scholarship program sets Hendrix
tuition at public flagship level
CONWAY,
Ark. (August 29, 2023) — New first-year students admitted to Hendrix College
for the 2024-2025 academic year will pay no more in tuition and fees than they
would at their home state’s public flagship institution, as part of the
College’s newly expanded Tuition Advantage scholarship program.
New
first-year students will now receive a Tuition Advantage scholarship
automatically upon their admission to Hendrix. The scholarship amounts are
based on the published tuition and fees at the public flagship university in
the students’ home states. Previously, when the program was originally
introduced in 2019, admitted students were considered for Tuition Advantage
scholarships after a holistic review of their academic record, as well as
leadership, extracurricular, and volunteer activities.
The
College decided to award Tuition Advantage scholarships to all admitted
first-year students to increase transparency, eliminate the uncertainty around
the review process, and reassure students and families that Hendrix is
affordable.
“Students
and families should not be confused or frustrated by a lack of clarity around
cost,” said Hendrix College President Karen Petersen, who recently experienced
the admission and financial aid process firsthand as a parent of a current
college student. “I know that we can and should do more to reassure students
and families that a four-year education at Hendrix is affordable and valuable.”
Many
students and families see added value in private residential colleges like
Hendrix, but they may not apply because they assume it will cost much more than
a public university, Petersen said.
“We
hope Tuition Advantage will reduce uncertainty and anxiety in the application
process by affirming for students and their families that a Hendrix education
is within their reach,” she said.
In addition
to Tuition Advantage, students can bring in outside scholarships, as well as
state and federal aid, to further reduce the cost of their Hendrix education,
according to Ryan Cassell, vice president for enrollment and dean of admission.
“Every
year, we learn of strong students who do not even consider Hendrix because they
think it will not be financially attainable,” said Cassell, who encourages any
student interested in Hendrix to apply for admission and complete the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible. “By being
clear about cost before the application stage, we want to empower students and
families to make the most informed decision possible.”
Students
and families should also consider the value of their education, meaning what
they receive for what they pay. That overall value includes everything from academic quality and degree programs, to the
opportunity to form close relationships with faculty in small class settings,
to internship and research opportunities and career preparation programs that
prepare students for success after college, as well as campus life and student
activities that complement their education and enrich their experience, said
Cassell.
“These
factors are important to consider because they reflect students’ goals,
interests, and values,” he said, adding that these activities are also
predictors of lifelong fulfillment and success for liberal arts college
graduates, according to Richard Detweiler’s 2021 book The Evidence Liberal Arts Needs: Lives of Consequence, Inquiry, and
Accomplishment.
For
more information on Tuition Advantage, visit www.hendrix.edu/tuitionadvantage.
About
Hendrix College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in Colleges
That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges
and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic
quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus
life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III
sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since
1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“… Through engagement that links the classroom
with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice, and
sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives of
accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.”
—Hendrix College Statement of Purpose