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. Eligible students must be under 24, have graduated from an Illinois high school, and be enrolled as a new freshman in a baccalaureate program for at least 15 credit hours. Their parents or guardians must also be Illinois residents. Roosevelt University President Ali Malekzadeh stated that the university believes income shouldn’t prevent students from pursuing higher education.
This initiative follows a trend among universities, both public and private, to offer free or significantly reduced tuition for low-income students. The University of Illinois’ Illinois Commitment program, started in 2019, and similar programs at UIC (UIC Aspire) and the University of Chicago serve as examples. These programs vary in income thresholds and the specific costs covered; for instance, the University of Illinois program covers tuition for students with family incomes up to $75,000, while the University of Chicago covers tuition, housing, and meals for those with incomes of $60,000 or less, and tuition only for those up to $125,000. City Colleges of Chicago also offers the Chicago STAR Scholarship for tuition coverage.
Sara Miller, executive director of Green Halo Scholars, notes that these programs are attractive to universities for their marketing potential, offering clarity to families about actual college costs. However, she points out that fees not covered by these programs can still create significant financial burdens for students. The North Star Promise in Minnesota, for example, left many students with substantial housing and food costs. This highlights the importance of considering all expenses, beyond tuition, when assessing affordability.
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, avoiding significant debt, a decision heavily influenced by the cost differences between Illinois and the University of Wisconsin. However, even with scholarships covering costs beyond tuition, she still faces out-of-pocket expenses and challenges with the timing of reimbursements.
The increasing cost of higher education in Illinois, coupled with decreased state funding and past issues like FAFSA technical difficulties and lawsuits alleging financial aid collusion among universities, underscore the importance of transparent and accessible financial aid programs. Miller emphasizes the need for universities to be forthright about what their aid packages truly cover and streamline the application processes to reduce barriers for students, particularly those most in need.