Editorial: Financial aid receives an ‘A +’

posted in: Opinion | 0

Looking at Pacific University as a high school senior or transfer student, and finding out the total cost of attendance is more than $47,000 can be quite daunting. For most first-time college students, this makes them consider junior college options before entering a four-year institution. For transfers, it may make them look into neighboring state schools.
Yet, there are some areas where Pacific exceeds other universities. This university takes pride in prestigious academic standing, a small school atmosphere, dedication to sustainability, and most of all, superb financial assistance.
During the 2011-2012 school year, more than 95 percent of undergraduates received some kind of financial aid. The average institutional aid total per recipient amounted to just less than $16,000.
This aid includes scholarships, grants and federal assistance.
Pacific offers a wide range of scholarships for incoming and current students. Last year, every student who applied for the Boxer Spirit scholarship received some amount between $1,000 and $3,000. Close to 400 students applied.
A substantial list of scholarships are available for students with differing interests, grade point averages and backgrounds such as academic, merit, need-based, endowed and religious-based scholarships.
For incoming students, the Pacesetters scholarship gives a $1,000 annual scholarship just for showing up. Awards to students who perform well at this scholarship competition range from $1,000 to $5,000 with the top two performing students receiving full tuition scholarships.
Another key area to assisting students with the costs of attendance is work-study.
“Even though our federal funding has been decreasing for the last few years, Pacific has made an effort to continue to offer work-study to as many students as possible,” said Director of Financial Aid Mike Johnson.
Johnson continued by saying Pacific has an extremely well-run student employment program.
With work-study positions, students can earn up to $2,000 per academic year. A few student employment opportunities are also available on campus for students who did not receive or do not qualify for work-study.
Yes, it is overwhelming when tuition is $35,260, and that doesn’t even cover room and board, yet with Pacific’s dedication to outstanding financial aid opportunities, it’s worth it in the end.

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