SALT LAKE CITY – As high school seniors around the country get closer to making a decision about where–or if–to attend college, Westminster University is unveiling a new initiative designed to help students and their families understand the true cost of college.
Westminster’s unique Cost Transparency Initiative gives prospective students an accurate understanding of their tuition costs and financial aid options available to them, whether through grants, scholarships, or student loans.
Tools like the Net Price Calculator can generate an estimate for the cost of a Westminster education in just 10 minutes, taking into account financial need and merit-based considerations like GPA and athletics. Westminster’s merit-based scholarships are based on a student’s GPA making the scholarship process clear; students know what they are eligible for even before applying to the university.
“These are big decisions, but students and families don’t need to navigate this process alone or in the dark,” said Erica Johnson, Vice President of Admissions. “There are so many ways to make this investment in your future manageable. We’re here to help students understand how we can make a Westminster education work for them.”
Westminster has long been committed to ensuring that any academically motivated student who wishes to invest in a high-quality education is able to do so. Through the Westminster Commitment, any student who graduates from a Utah high school with at least a 3.3 GPA and has a family income below $75,000 with limited assets is eligible to receive scholarships and grants to cover four years of tuition at Westminster–opening up doors of opportunity for academically-driven Utah students. Out of 14 colleges evaluated in Utah, a recent New York Times study ranked Westminster as first in economic mobility, measuring the likelihood that students who came from the families in the bottom fifth of incomes moved to the top fifth as adults.
Westminster offers dozens of merit-based scholarships, which all first-year students are automatically considered for. After filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, all students are also considered for a range of tailored income-based grants as well. Westminster admissions and financial aid counselors offer free, one-on-one virtual meetings for students to help them fill out the FAFSA form, answering their questions along the way.
Westminster students also offset the cost of their education through on-campus employment opportunities. Students work as research assistants, athletic trainers, writing tutors, theatre technicians, and many other jobs that meaningfully contribute to campus life. Students can also be considered for scholarships through the Honors College, athletics, and performing arts.
