Knox College
PA-8: Affordability and Access

The Gale Scholar program is a collaborative partnership between Knox, the local school district, (Galesburg District 205) and the area community college (Carl Sandburg College), created to encourage and support higher education aspirations and success in the target population of academically promising first-generation and income eligible youth within District 205. Each year up to 15 students are selected, and they join other cohorts to participate in summer enrichment and academic preparation, community service, and special skill-building experiences. Students who complete the program in high school receive tuition-waiver scholarships toward the completion of associate's and bachelor's degree programs at Carl Sandburg College and Knox, respectively. Highly academically successful students at Galesburg High School may qualify for direct enrollment at Knox College. The program was recognized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education in 1999 as one of six exemplary "best practices" within the State of Illinois -- a program that directly addresses the growing number of youth who, because of socio-economic barriers, often are not given the opportunity to realize their full potential as scholars and future leaders in our community. On the basis of this and other programs, Washington Monthly (2012) ranked Knox College number 11 among Top Colleges in Service to Public Good. (http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2012/liberal_arts_rank.php)

The TRIO Achievement Program supports the retention and graduation of students from modest income backgrounds and those whose parents do not have a four-year college degree. Students with documented disabilities may also participate in the TRIO Achievement Program. TRIO staff are trained to assist students with all aspects of the student experience -- personal, financial, academic, cultural, and more. Faculty mentors for the McNair Scholars Program work with 10 sophomores each year, who are the first in their family to attend college, or from an ethnic or income group underrepresented in higher education. Faculty supporting the Gale Scholars Program work with up to 15 socio-economically disadvantaged students each year, and guide them summer enrichment and academic preparation, community service, and special skill-building experiences.

The Gale Scholars program, described above engages academically promising students from low-income backgrounds in summer enrichment and academic preparation, community service, and special skill-building experiences. College financial assistance is offered as an incentive to remain engaged. College 4 Kids is a summer program at Knox, engaging students in grades three through eight. In 2012, more than 260 children participated in more than 40 courses in the humanities, physical and social sciences, fine arts, languages, and mathematics. The 2012 attendance was the most diverse in the program's history. Courses are designed to engage high-achieving students, as well as serving as an entryway into higher education for many children of color and those from low-socio-economic-status backgrounds who, in the future, might be the first in their families to attend college. After-school programs are also sponsored through clubs and organizations at Knox.

Knox College offered $42,090,869 in need-based financial aid for academic year 2012-'13. Approximately 80% percent of new (U.S. first-year) students entering in fall 2013 qualified for financial aid based on need. Awards ranged from $15,500 to $49,931. Student financial aid awards are based on financial need, determined by a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the Knox Financial Aid Application.

Admission counselors work closely with parents to help them pursue appropriate financial aid avenues, both within and outside of Knox. They also work with students to guide them into relevant programs, such as TRIO.

Knox has decades-long relationships with CBOs in Chicago and elsewhere. Almost 10% of the Knox student body is from the Chicago Public School system.

Subsidized loans are awarded based on financial need. Loanees will not accrue interest or start payments until they have been out of college for six months. Federal Direct Stafford Loan maximums are $5,500 for first-year students, $6,500 for sophomores, and $7,500 for juniors and seniors. Unsubsidized loans are available for students who do not qualify for subsidized loans based on need and students whose parents are ineligible for the Federal PLUS Loan. Perkins loans are usually reserved for students with greater financial need. The maximum award is $5,500 per undergraduate year, and you will not accrue interest or start payments until you've been out of college for nine months. Eligibility for the Federal Perkins Loan program is determined by Knox College.

Campus employment and work study awards give priority for campus jobs to students in financial need. Eligible students can work up to 10 hours per week and earn up to $2,475. Most work award recipients use their earnings to pay for personal expenses, books, and supplies. A list of campus jobs available to students is perpetually updated, and available on the school's online job bank. Knox also accepts a payment plan option, offered through Tuition Management Systems (TMS). TMS provides three term-length payment plans of three or four months each so payments for the entire year can be spread across nine or 12 months. Knox also has a scholarship program -- generally limited to no more than one-half of our comprehensive fee -- for non-U.S. citizens who demonstrate financial need and exceptional academic promise.

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Before classes begin during fall term, non-traditional students coordinate with faculty, staff, and administration to design their own Knox orientation. This orientation often includes discussions about issues non-traditional Knox students might face, such as Parking issues; Difficulty in having the constant access to resources that on-campus students have; Expectations of professors, especially for those who commute; Integrating with traditional students in classes and extracurriculars. This is coordinated through the Non-Traditional Students Club. The Non-Traditional Students Club is specifically designed for students who might be a parent, working a full-time job, are a bit older than the average college student, or all of the above. Goals of the Non-Traditional Student Club: Provide support and information for Knox students who are also balancing jobs and family life; Helping non-traditional students be as involved on campus as students who live on campus; Host regular meetings twice a month to discuss experiences and ask questions. Children of students are welcome to attend.

Statistics for "Indicators that the institution is accessible and affordable to low-income students" pertain specifically to academic year 2012-2013. "low income" is defined here as Pell-eligible. Additional financial aid resources are available on the Knox website, at the following URLs: http://www.knox.edu/admission/cost-and-financial-aid/how-to-apply-for-financial-aid.html http://www.knox.edu/admission/cost-and-financial-aid/loans-and-financing-options.html http://www.knox.edu/admission/cost-and-financial-aid/financial-aid-for-international-students.html