Roosevelt University will launch the Roosevelt Pledge, a new financial aid program starting in spring 2025. This program will cover tuition costs not already covered by loans, grants, or work-study for Illinois resident students whose family income is less than $50,000 annually. To be eligible, students must be under 24, have graduated from an Illinois high school, and be enrolling as a new freshman in a baccalaureate program for at least 15 credit hours. Their parents or guardians must also be Illinois residents. Roosevelt President Ali Malekzadeh stated that the university believes income shouldn’t be a barrier to higher education.
This initiative follows a trend of universities offering similar free or significantly reduced tuition programs for low-income students. The University of Illinois’ Illinois Commitment, launched in 2019, and similar programs at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC Aspire) and the University of Chicago, are examples. These programs are attractive to universities due to their ease of advertising, as noted by Sara Miller, executive director of Green Halo Scholars. Miller highlights the benefit of these programs in providing families with upfront clarity on college costs. However, she also points out that many programs don’t cover all expenses, leaving students responsible for fees, housing, and food costs, which can still be substantial.
The experience of Nora Harvey, a University of Illinois student, illustrates the impact of such programs. Her financial aid package allowed her to attend the University of Illinois instead of the University of Wisconsin, avoiding significant debt. However, even with her scholarship, she still faces out-of-pocket expenses. The challenge of covering costs beyond tuition is a common issue, as highlighted by the example of Minnesota’s North Star Promise, where many students still faced significant housing and food costs.
The rising cost of higher education in Illinois, coupled with decreased state funding and past issues like technical difficulties with FAFSA and allegations of collusion among universities to limit financial aid, further emphasizes the need for transparent and comprehensive financial aid programs. Miller advocates for universities to be more transparent about the true cost of attendance and to streamline the application processes for financial aid. She criticizes instances of misleading scholarship presentations and the inclusion of Parent PLUS loans, which can create deceptive financial aid packages. Improving transparency and accessibility in these programs would greatly benefit students, especially those most in need of assistance.