Like many JWU students, John Kelley '11 faced the reality of the rising costs of education. How aid affects students led John, a student in The Hospitality College, to write a research paper, “Three Forces Affecting Middle-Income Students: Affordability of the College Experience.”
“Students from middle-income families face difficulties when applying for aid from the government, a university or outside sources,” John notes. He speaks from experience. As a high school junior, John was involved with DECA, and knew that with room and board, it would cost almost $32,000 to attend JWU.
John received a $10,000 four-year, renewable scholarship. By researching outside scholarships, he also secured an additional $10,000 per year.
“Many students just take on loans, but there is money out there,” John says. He's right. Beyond institutional aid, more than $130 billion in financial aid is available according to the College Board, an educational nonprofit.
JWU’s Strategic Enrollment Team has committed more than $140 million to institutional aid for the 2012-13 academic year. “In a changing economy, aid and scholarships make a difference,” says Marie Bernardo ’92, university registrar, vice president of student services and chair of the team. “It’s encouraging how much it impacts our students’ lives.”
“The more aid I received, the harder it made me work,” says John, who belonged to the President’s Leadership Council and Student Alumni Association.
His academic performance allowed John to keep his scholarship and enjoy the full college experience at JWU. “Some day," he says, "I hope to give back and provide someone else an opportunity too.”