Pennsylvania College to Cover Tuition for In-State Students Whose Families Make $50,000 or Less

• Allegheny College will cover the full cost of tuition for students whose families earn a total annual income of $50,000 or less.
• Students will need to submit their application and FAFSA to the school by Feb. 15 to be eligible for the program.
• The program will start with the 2023-2024 academic year, and current students are also eligible for the program.
• The move to cover tuition is part of a growing trend in higher education.

In-state students whose families make $50,000 or less annually will have their tuition entirely paid for at Allegheny College in northwestern Pennsylvania, the school announced last week.

Allegheny College, a private liberal arts school roughly 90 minutes north of Pittsburgh, announced its new Commitment to Access Program (CAP) last week to pay for tuition for students from lower-income families. The program will cover 100% of tuition for students who come from families earning $50,000 or less annually, according to a release.

"We know the cost of college can be overwhelming for many families, and we are committed to making Allegheny accessible to all Pennsylvania students," Ellen Johnson, the vice president for enrollment management at Allegheny College, said in the release.

The program will be open to current students, as well as first-year and new transfer students, starting for the 2023-2024 school year, according to the release. Students will be able to participate in the program for up to four years as long as they meet the income requirements.

“The program will be open to current students, as well as first-year and new transfer students, starting for the 2023-2024 school year, according to the release”

Eligible students from Pennsylvania need only to submit their admission application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Feb. 15 to be part of the program. Students who meet the family income requirements will be automatically considered for CAP, according to the release.

Returning students will need to submit their FAFSA by May 1 each year to determine their eligibility for CAP.

Full-time tuition at Allegheny College is $26,475 per semester, $2,206 per credit for part-time students during the spring and fall, and $2,163 per credit for part-time students during the summer, according to the school's website.

The cost of tuition will be covered by a mix of federal and state funding, as well as money from Allegheny College itself, according to the release.

"We are very grateful to the generous alumni and friends of the College who have made it a priority to support financial aid for new generations of Allegheny Gators," Johnson said in the release. "They are an inspiring example of the difference that an Allegheny education can make and the importance of giving back."

Allegheny College isn't the only institution stepping up its financial assistance to students from lower-income backgrounds. William & Mary in Virginia, a public research university, recently announced a new tuition program to cover the cost of tuition and fees for in-state Pell Grant recipients starting in the 2023-2024 academic year.

Princeton University also announced last month that it will step up its financial aid programs, including making tuition and room and board free for students from families making under $100,000. The Ivy League school is also providing more aid for students whose families earn more than $100,000 yearly.