| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.39 |
| Liaison | Michelle Patterson |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
Washington University in St. Louis
PA-8: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.68 / 4.00 |
Michael
Runiewicz Director Student Financial Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Provide at least one of the following figures:
100
Percentage of students graduating without student loan debt:
72
Percentage of entering students that are low-income:
16
Graduation/success rate for low-income students:
89
Optional Fields
Washington University Admission counselors travel the country to connect with prospective students and their families to provide counsel for academically talented students from under resourced low-income backgrounds and are well acquainted with the institution’s stated goals to increase diversity of its student body and to make a Washington University educational experience available to all students, regardless of financial need.
Our Admissions staff conducts high school visits, host student interview days, attends college fairs, and conducts essay writing workshops and case studies, as well as, other recruiting events that create awareness and access for low income students engaged in the college selection process. Targeted outreach efforts include collaboration with guidance counselors, teachers, community-based organizations, and community leaders who engage high schools with significant populations of high-achieving students from underrepresented populations.
Our key partnerships include College Bound, KIPP, Arkansas Commitment, A Better Chance, Chicago Scholars, Target Hope, QuestBridge, EMERGE, and Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA). WashU is a member school with the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success to provide substantial support to lower-resourced and underrepresented students. We have also partnered with College Greenlight and Raise Me to provide additional scholarship opportunities to first generation, low-income, and underrepresented students.
Additionally, we offer individual travel grants and invitations to special fly-ins for students who need financial assistance to be able to visit campus. The components included within a financial assistance award based on financial need are specific to each family’s financial circumstances and work together to make enrollment a reality. Students are generally eligible to receive financial assistance for eight semesters. For students admitted to combined-degree programs requiring more than four years of study, aid will be extended beyond eight semesters.
Students who receive financial assistance come from a wide variety of family income levels since many factors (such as household size, the number of children in the household attending college, the parents’ age, etc.) affect eligibility. All applicants are encouraged to apply for financial assistance.
WashU meets the full need of all admitted students, including all low-income students who are admitted to the university. For students coming from families who make less than $75,000/year, we meet students’ full need without student loans through scholarships and work-study jobs. WashU takes a personalized approach to financial assistance and we work individually with families to ensure WashU remains affordable for them. In addition to collecting information on standard financial aid surveys, we solicit extra information to paint a better picture of students’ situations to better assess their needs. The Loan Replacement Program, First Year Start Up Grants, and WashU Pledge described below are all specifically designed to assist low-income students.
Loan Replacement Program: Washington University has eliminated need-based loans as part of its undergraduate financial assistance offers to students from low- and middle-income families. Entering first year students and returning full-time undergraduate day-school students with parental incomes of less than $75,000 annually or who are receiving a federal Pell Grant are not awarded need-based loans and instead receive grants from the university that will not have to be repaid.
First Year Startup Grants: These grants are created to aid students in their college experience and help to cover expenses associated with necessary school items, including but not limited to, school supplies, residential hall supplies, and winter clothing. These grants are awarded to students coming from families with less than $75,000 in family income or who are receiving a federal Pell Grant. The grant includes a waiver of the $1,550 summer earning expectation, a $500 bookstore credit, and $1,000 in startup grant funds.
WashU Pledge: The WashU Pledge guarantees to cover tuition, fees, room and board with grants and scholarships for all four years to students from Missouri and parts of Southern Illinois who come from families with income of $75,000 or less or who are receiving a federal Pell Grant.
Technology Grants: Washington University awards a grant to first year undergraduate students that covers the cost of a computer at the campus bookstore that meets the current undergraduate minimum requirements. First year students eligible for need-based financial assistance are eligible for this grant.
In addition, WashU has eliminated application fees.
Our Admissions staff conducts high school visits, host student interview days, attends college fairs, and conducts essay writing workshops and case studies, as well as, other recruiting events that create awareness and access for low income students engaged in the college selection process. Targeted outreach efforts include collaboration with guidance counselors, teachers, community-based organizations, and community leaders who engage high schools with significant populations of high-achieving students from underrepresented populations.
Our key partnerships include College Bound, KIPP, Arkansas Commitment, A Better Chance, Chicago Scholars, Target Hope, QuestBridge, EMERGE, and Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA). WashU is a member school with the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success to provide substantial support to lower-resourced and underrepresented students. We have also partnered with College Greenlight and Raise Me to provide additional scholarship opportunities to first generation, low-income, and underrepresented students.
Additionally, we offer individual travel grants and invitations to special fly-ins for students who need financial assistance to be able to visit campus. The components included within a financial assistance award based on financial need are specific to each family’s financial circumstances and work together to make enrollment a reality. Students are generally eligible to receive financial assistance for eight semesters. For students admitted to combined-degree programs requiring more than four years of study, aid will be extended beyond eight semesters.
Students who receive financial assistance come from a wide variety of family income levels since many factors (such as household size, the number of children in the household attending college, the parents’ age, etc.) affect eligibility. All applicants are encouraged to apply for financial assistance.
WashU meets the full need of all admitted students, including all low-income students who are admitted to the university. For students coming from families who make less than $75,000/year, we meet students’ full need without student loans through scholarships and work-study jobs. WashU takes a personalized approach to financial assistance and we work individually with families to ensure WashU remains affordable for them. In addition to collecting information on standard financial aid surveys, we solicit extra information to paint a better picture of students’ situations to better assess their needs. The Loan Replacement Program, First Year Start Up Grants, and WashU Pledge described below are all specifically designed to assist low-income students.
Loan Replacement Program: Washington University has eliminated need-based loans as part of its undergraduate financial assistance offers to students from low- and middle-income families. Entering first year students and returning full-time undergraduate day-school students with parental incomes of less than $75,000 annually or who are receiving a federal Pell Grant are not awarded need-based loans and instead receive grants from the university that will not have to be repaid.
First Year Startup Grants: These grants are created to aid students in their college experience and help to cover expenses associated with necessary school items, including but not limited to, school supplies, residential hall supplies, and winter clothing. These grants are awarded to students coming from families with less than $75,000 in family income or who are receiving a federal Pell Grant. The grant includes a waiver of the $1,550 summer earning expectation, a $500 bookstore credit, and $1,000 in startup grant funds.
WashU Pledge: The WashU Pledge guarantees to cover tuition, fees, room and board with grants and scholarships for all four years to students from Missouri and parts of Southern Illinois who come from families with income of $75,000 or less or who are receiving a federal Pell Grant.
Technology Grants: Washington University awards a grant to first year undergraduate students that covers the cost of a computer at the campus bookstore that meets the current undergraduate minimum requirements. First year students eligible for need-based financial assistance are eligible for this grant.
In addition, WashU has eliminated application fees.
A brief description of notable policies or programs to support non-traditional students:
University College Programs & Degrees
Washington University has offered outstanding continuing education and professional programs since 1908. As the needs of their students increased, University College, the professional and continuing education division of Arts & Sciences, was founded officially in 1931 and has been serving the St. Louis region ever since.
While their programs and offerings have evolved, their mission has remained the same: to give adult students the opportunity to experience the excitement of attending and earning a degree or certificate from a world-class research institution. University College is continued education at its highest quality, with tuition rates that are surprisingly affordable and competitive.
With more than 50 programs of study, students find degrees and certificates that help advance their career, explore new fields, and grow personally and professionally. Even those who aren't seeking a degree find their place—our open enrollment policy allows students to take evening undergraduate courses on a non-degree basis while exploring their interests. Offerings include: certificate, advanced certificate, undergraduate, graduate, post-baccalaureate, pre-college and online programs.
The Office of Military and Veteran Services is Washington University’s focal point for military and veteran matters, to include facilitating the transition of military and veteran students into higher education, increasing student recruitment, engagement, tracking and support programs and services, and developing partnerships with campus services, community-based organizations, and federal, state and local government agencies.
The university is enriched by the presence of several student veteran associations (SVAs), student-led chapters that are the “boots on the ground” that provide peer-to-peer support, which has been linked to academic success and an easier transition to campus for student veterans:
- Washington University Student Veterans Association
- Olin Veterans Association (School of Business)
- Student Veterans Association at WashU Law
Tuition Assistance & Remission Programs
Contract Employee Scholarship Program
Contract employees who work full time on WashU's campuses are encouraged to take classes at University College for free or reduced cost. This program allows employees to earn a degree, certificate, or simply explore their interests in a stimulating academic setting. Learn more about the Contract Employee Scholarship program.
Half-tuition for Individuals 60 and Over
People 60 years of age and over may enroll for credit in most University College courses at one-half the regular tuition. Exceptions include Applied Music, Doctor of Liberal Arts, Independent Courses (i.e. Independent Study, Directed Research, Master's Thesis), Special Programs (i.e. M.S. Biology for Science Teachers), and courses in which enrollment is limited. This discount cannot be combined with the WashU Tuition Assistance benefit, University College scholarships or military benefits. A birth certificate, driver's license, or other official verification of age is required at the time of registration.
St. Louis Area City & School District Tuition Assistance
Clayton City, St. Louis City, and University City employees and school district teachers are eligible to take classes at half the standard University College tuition. Learn more about the St. Louis Area City & School District Tuition Assistance program.
WashU Tuition Assistance
Full-time WashU employees and their families are eligible for University College tuition remission. Learn more about WashU's Tuition Assistance program.
Community College Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for new undergraduate students who recently graduated from a community college with a 3.7 GPA. The scholarship is intended to recognize academic excellence among St. Louis area community college students who seek to continue their education through University College at Washington University.
Additional scholarship programs for non-traditional and part time students: https://ucollege.wustl.edu/tuition-aid/financial-aid/scholarships
Washington University has offered outstanding continuing education and professional programs since 1908. As the needs of their students increased, University College, the professional and continuing education division of Arts & Sciences, was founded officially in 1931 and has been serving the St. Louis region ever since.
While their programs and offerings have evolved, their mission has remained the same: to give adult students the opportunity to experience the excitement of attending and earning a degree or certificate from a world-class research institution. University College is continued education at its highest quality, with tuition rates that are surprisingly affordable and competitive.
With more than 50 programs of study, students find degrees and certificates that help advance their career, explore new fields, and grow personally and professionally. Even those who aren't seeking a degree find their place—our open enrollment policy allows students to take evening undergraduate courses on a non-degree basis while exploring their interests. Offerings include: certificate, advanced certificate, undergraduate, graduate, post-baccalaureate, pre-college and online programs.
The Office of Military and Veteran Services is Washington University’s focal point for military and veteran matters, to include facilitating the transition of military and veteran students into higher education, increasing student recruitment, engagement, tracking and support programs and services, and developing partnerships with campus services, community-based organizations, and federal, state and local government agencies.
The university is enriched by the presence of several student veteran associations (SVAs), student-led chapters that are the “boots on the ground” that provide peer-to-peer support, which has been linked to academic success and an easier transition to campus for student veterans:
- Washington University Student Veterans Association
- Olin Veterans Association (School of Business)
- Student Veterans Association at WashU Law
Tuition Assistance & Remission Programs
Contract Employee Scholarship Program
Contract employees who work full time on WashU's campuses are encouraged to take classes at University College for free or reduced cost. This program allows employees to earn a degree, certificate, or simply explore their interests in a stimulating academic setting. Learn more about the Contract Employee Scholarship program.
Half-tuition for Individuals 60 and Over
People 60 years of age and over may enroll for credit in most University College courses at one-half the regular tuition. Exceptions include Applied Music, Doctor of Liberal Arts, Independent Courses (i.e. Independent Study, Directed Research, Master's Thesis), Special Programs (i.e. M.S. Biology for Science Teachers), and courses in which enrollment is limited. This discount cannot be combined with the WashU Tuition Assistance benefit, University College scholarships or military benefits. A birth certificate, driver's license, or other official verification of age is required at the time of registration.
St. Louis Area City & School District Tuition Assistance
Clayton City, St. Louis City, and University City employees and school district teachers are eligible to take classes at half the standard University College tuition. Learn more about the St. Louis Area City & School District Tuition Assistance program.
WashU Tuition Assistance
Full-time WashU employees and their families are eligible for University College tuition remission. Learn more about WashU's Tuition Assistance program.
Community College Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for new undergraduate students who recently graduated from a community college with a 3.7 GPA. The scholarship is intended to recognize academic excellence among St. Louis area community college students who seek to continue their education through University College at Washington University.
Additional scholarship programs for non-traditional and part time students: https://ucollege.wustl.edu/tuition-aid/financial-aid/scholarships
Estimated percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students:
42
Website URL where information about the institution’s accessibility and affordability initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://studentsuccess.wustl.edu/
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.