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Ferris State Launches Tuition-Free Program for Low-Income Students

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To support college bound students from low-income families, Ferris State University (FSU) in Michigan has launched a new tuition-free program that will ensure students don’t have to pay anything toward their university degree.

FSU’s “Ferris Launch Initiative” will offer free education to high achievers with financial needs. “Ferris Launch brings your tuition bill down to zero so you can launch your education and accelerate your life right now,” the school wrote.

The program provides grants to students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have an Expected Family Contribution of zero. The grant is available to first-generation students, seeking their first associate or bachelor’s degree.

“The pandemic has hit families particularly hard,” said FSU Financial Aid Office Coordinator and Advisor Melanie Mulder to 9 & 10 News. “Some students come from single parent households, and those are the students we’re trying to help. It’s just a perfect time to lend a hand to those families that were struck hard by the pandemic.”

To apply for the program, students will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The school will then decide the amount of grant the student is eligible for depending on their financial information.

Other Tuition-Free Programs

With the cost of college education rising every year, more and more schools are going for “the road less taken” by introducing tuition-free programs.

In 2018, the University of Virginia announced tuition-free education for Virginia families that earn less than $80,000 per year. “I see a community that opens wide the door to opportunity for first-generation, low- and middle-income students,” said President James Ryan at the time.

In a similar initiative, the University of Arizona in 2019 announced free tuition for medical students who pledge to serve underserved communities in the state. 

Several other institutions such as the University of Minnesota, Illinois University, and Eastern Michigan University have also added similar programs to address rapidly expanding economic inequality, the continued rising cost of education, and the difficulties for those struck hard by the pandemic.

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