More eligible for free tuition at Texas A&M / impact on UT?

[MidwestMom2Kids_1]

<p>What do you think? Will Texas A&M’s offer of free tuition to freshmen whose family income is $60,000 or less reduce the number of top 10% freshmen applying to UT? </p>

<p>Do you think it will reduce UT’s “yield” (the proportion of the class of 2009 students accepted to UT who enroll at in fall 2009)?</p>

<p>

Texas A&M offers free tuition program
By GENE TRAINOR
<a href="mailto:gtrainor@star-telegram.com">gtrainor@star-telegram.com</a></p>

<p>Texas A&M University freshmen whose family income doesn’t exceed $60,000 have another incentive to do well in class — free tuition.</p>

<p>The Aggie Assurance offer takes effect with the current freshman class and is part of an effort by some major universities to make college more accessible to middle-income families, the university announced Monday. </p>

<p>Aggies must maintain a 2.5 grade point average (between a B and a C) to keep the scholarship.</p>

<p>They will also be eligible for additional grants, loans or work study programs to cover fees, textbooks, and room and board. The estimated cost to attend for in-state students totals $19,950, of which $7,844 is tuition and fees. Nearly 80 percent of A&M students receive financial aid. </p>

<p>“That’s part of the message we’re trying to send, that college is affordable to middle-income families,” said Joe Pettibon, assistant provost for financial aid. A record 48,000 students attend the university, of whom 2,355 are from Tarrant County. </p>

<p>A national trend</p>

<p>Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have all announced programs in recent years to waive or reduce college costs for middle-income families. The scholarships are due in part to congressional pressure on universities, especially those with large endowments, to stem the rapid rise in tuitions or help cover costs with more financial aid.</p>

<p>The University of North Texas’ Emerald Eagle Scholars program covers tuition and fees for students from families with a household income of less than $40,000. The students must maintain a 2.5 GPA, complete 30 semester credit hours each year, and engage in university life by working on campus and participating in mentoring and other programs.</p>

<p>The University of Texas at Arlington’s Maverick Promise program is similar. </p>

<p>No pressure</p>

<p>A&M’s program raises the stakes by increasing the income level. **The median family income in Texas was estimated at $52,355 in 2006, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. **A&M will spend an additional $300,000 this year for Aggie Assurance, with the final phase-in cost expected to total $3 million to $3.5 million annually, officials said. </p>

<p>Troy Johnson, UNT’s associate vice president for enrollment management, said he feels no pressure to change UNT’s programs. The university offers financial packages to middle-income students, and students committed to A&M or UNT will still likely attend that school, he said. </p>

<p>But UT-Arlington is looking at increasing the family income level for Maverick Promise from $40,000. An announcement should be made this week, said Donald Bobbitt, UT-Arlington provost and vice president for academic affairs. He said that he applauds Texas A&M but that that’s not what’s prompting UT-Arlington to consider increasing the income cap.</p>

<p>“We had been considering this at multiple levels for several weeks now,” he said. </p>

<hr>

<p>Aggie Assurance A&M will cover tuition for students from families earning $60,000 or less.</p>

<p>The program takes effect with the current freshman class.</p>

<p>Students must be from Texas and maintain a 2.5 GPA.</p>

<p>The program is expected to cost Texas A&M $300,000 this year.</p>

<p>The university received about 25,000 applications for the freshman class. About 14,000 students were accepted, and about 8,100 enrolled. For the fall freshman class, the average SAT score (verbal and math) was 1210, and the average ACT composite score was 26.

</p>

[AMom2]

<p>I don’t really think it will affect UT. Some students just will not attend A & M, if it’s free. I’m impressed with A & M, but I know some who can’t fit in there.</p>

<p>It would be nice if UT offered the same program.</p>

[Youdon_tsay]

<p>I definitely think there will be an effect. People won’t replace UT with A&M, but I think people will add A&M to their list. Then, when they get both acceptances and a look at the aid packages, which is more generous at A&M, some will be inclined to give A&M a second and third look.</p>

<p>I agree with pp that it’s not the perfect fit for some people, including my son, but we make less than $60K, so, yeah, I’ll be making sure he takes a long, hard look at the place and not be so dismissive.</p>

<p>We’ve visited UNT as a financial and academic safety. He liked the vibe but realizes the academics aren’t as great as he’s used to/wants. However, if UNT follows suit and offers free tuition then that would be a big draw, and we’d take an even harder look. UNT is my alma mater; I really think he’d like it there. The atmosphere is very similar to UT, IMO, because of the music scene and a general laid-back attitude. There’s an honors college there now, so I think it could actually be a really good fit for him. Of course, Rice and a bunch of LACs are at the top of his list!</p>

[schismmanifesto]

<p>Hey Youdon’tsay, if your child liked the vibe of UNT but doesn’t feel particularly comfortable with the academic quality try looking at their Honors College. It is available to all majors and it is actually a very good program. I am a current Plan II Honors student at UT Austin and while UT is costing me 20,000 a year I could have probably gone to the UNT’s honors college for free. Now, since I lived in Denton I didn’t want to stay there for school however, retrospectively UNT is not looked at as badly as I thought. Visit the Honors College because while it is a relatively new program they are offering some nice incentives like scholarships and a brand new Honors Dorms.</p>

[Youdon_tsay]

<p>I enjoyed my time in Denton. I grew up in FW, so Denton was just far enough away that I could live in an apt but get home when I wanted to. The knock on it for my son is the feel that it’s more of a commuter college than he would like. And, like I said, he’s concerned about the academics a bit. But the day we toured this summer, there was an eclectic mix of people. Felt like the Drag, so he was really comfortable there. He’s a junior so he has another year, but I’m sure he’ll apply to UNT’s honors college when the time comes.</p>

<p>Interestingly, my son is not jazzed about Plan II. When the rep visited his campus, he got the impression the curriculum was very prescribed. Is that the case? He’ll still apply to UT, just not Plan II, I guess.</p>