Judson offers free tuition for students in need

Judson University in Elgin is offering free tuition for students with financial need who also qualify for federal and state aid.

Through the Christian liberal arts university's "You Can Afford It" initiative eligible high school seniors and transfer students won't have to pay out-of-pocket for tuition and fees for traditional undergraduate degree programs.

Applicants must live within 45 miles of the Elgin campus to be eligible and must complete the FAFSA (Free Federal Aid Student Application) to qualify based on need. Students who qualify for the federal Pell Grant and the Illinois State Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant are encouraged to apply.

"We are trying to encourage the student who may not realize the support that you are going to get could be very significant," said Mary Dulabaum, director of marketing and communications. "It assumes that you are meeting all of the requirements for admission and you have that financial need."

Judson's annual tuition and fees cost $28,730 per academic year. Students who qualify for federal and state aid and meet the academic criteria could receive as much as $11,135 in aid and $5,500 in student loans. Judson guarantees to cover the remaining $12,095 cost for tuition and fees that students won't have to repay. Campus housing costs would be extra. The average room and board cost is $9,450 yearly, which students must cover themselves if they don't commute to the Elgin campus.

"It is important that our students in the Fox Valley area have an affordable option to receive a quality education at a fully accredited, private Christian university," Judson President Gene Crume said. "Given the national conversation around the cost of higher education and student debt, Judson is pleased to offer a solution that can impact the lives of so many students."

Officials began promoting the initiative to transfer students over the summer and some applications already have been submitted.

"This type of aid has been available. People don't know about it so we've tried to package it into a program that is very defined and understandable so that people seek it out," Dulabaum said. "Every school district needs to know about this opportunity and we are going to be seeking ways to do that."

For more information about Judson's financial aid program, call (847) 628-2517.