Blackburn College to Meet 100 Percent of Financial Need

CARLINVILLE, Ill., October 18, 2017 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​While many students and families worry if they will be able to afford a college education, one small college in central Illinois is making a bold promise—the Blackburn Promise.

Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois, will now meet the financial need of all new students. Blackburn joins the ranks of a small number of colleges and universities that meet 100 percent of each individual student’s financial need.

Meeting the demonstrated financial need of all new students is a bold initiative for Blackburn College but one that aligns very closely with the mission of the college—to provide affordable and accessible education. Removing financial barriers for new students will help us make the dream of a college education come true for many more students.

John Comerford, Blackburn College President

Blackburn will be the only institution in the area that meets all financial need and one of only a few in the Midwest. According to US News, only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities offer this type of commitment to their students. In Illinois, only Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, and only Washington University in Missouri, offer the same commitment to student financial need.

“Meeting the demonstrated financial need of all new students is a bold initiative for Blackburn College but one that aligns very closely with the mission of the college — to provide affordable and accessible education. Removing financial barriers for new students will help us make the dream of a college education come true for many more students,” Blackburn President John Comerford commented.

The process is simple. When students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) they are informed of their Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). Blackburn will now recognize this EFC amount as the only cost required from the student toward tuition and fees. This will create a very equitable method of assigning education costs based on a student’s ability to pay, removing financial restrictions for many students.

“The opportunity for young people is tremendous,” noted Peter Oswald, Director of Marketing & Public Relations. “The Blackburn Promise provides an understandable path through the financial challenges faced by many families. If a student’s EFC is zero, they will not pay anything toward tuition at Blackburn. If the EFC is $4,000---that’s all they will have to come up with. Each student’s financial aid package will cover the balance of costs.”

Students must meet the admissions requirements for the college and participate in the nationally recognized, student-managed Blackburn College Work Program. Direct college costs covered by the Blackburn Promise financial aid package include tuition, fees, room and board.

“Blackburn has rigorous academic program. That, combined with the only student-managed Work Program in the U.S., provides students with a great education and experience that will lead to successful careers,” noted Comerford. “Blackburn students make a remarkable impact wherever they go and the Blackburn Promise will make that opportunity available for many more deserving students.”

Founded in 1837, Blackburn College is a four-year, co-educational liberal arts college located in Carlinville, Illinois. One of the eight work colleges in the U.S., Blackburn is the only one with a student-managed Work Program. Blackburn was also ranked by US News as one of the Top 50 Midwest Colleges and the #5 Best Value in Regional Colleges in the Midwest; and The Washington Monthly has ranked the college as the best baccalaureate college in Illinois and among the top 50 in the U.S.

To learn more, please visit: www.blackburn.edu

Media Contact:
Peter Oswald
Phone: 217-854-5781
Email: [email protected]

Source: Blackburn College