{"id":99448,"date":"2014-12-19T10:50:27","date_gmt":"2014-12-19T15:50:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=99448"},"modified":"2015-01-06T10:07:20","modified_gmt":"2015-01-06T15:07:20","slug":"uconn-underscores-commitment-to-financial-aid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2014\/12\/uconn-underscores-commitment-to-financial-aid\/","title":{"rendered":"UConn Underscores Commitment to Financial Aid"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Connecticut is committing at record levels this year to financial assistance, helping students receive a high-quality education at a strong value. The support for students is both need- and merit-based.<\/p>\n

A report presented this month to the UConn Board of Trustees outlined the University\u2019s financial aid program in detail, providing the public with specific examples of ways in which UConn has made targeted policy and budget decisions to remain affordable for students and their families.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a commitment being recognized beyond the University: For the past three years, UConn has been in the Top 30 on Kiplinger\u2019s Personal Finance\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0list of 100 best values in public colleges.<\/p>\n

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In all about 83 percent of UConn students receive some form of financial aid.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clear that academic rigor and value are the two key considerations that prospective students and parents use when they make their choices about where they\u2019re going to invest in higher education,\u201d President Susan Herbst said. \u201cWhen you compare the cost of UConn with our competitors, particularly private schools, we clearly represent an economic value. This is a very important commitment on our part and we take it very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

In all, about 83 percent of all UConn undergraduates receive some form of financial aid.<\/p>\n

More than $142 million was included in the current fiscal year budget to aid UConn students through tuition-funded assistance, federal programs, work-study programs, private scholarships, and other forms of aid.<\/p>\n

Of that, more than $74.4 million was set aside by the University specifically in tuition-funded aid for need-based assistance and scholarships. By comparison, the 2004 tuition-funded aid budget in those areas was about $32.5 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want great students enrolling here at UConn at every campus, and part of doing that is helping students meet their economic needs,\u201d Herbst said. \u201cIt\u2019s one of our most important responsibilities and priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n

To help further that commitment, the UConn Foundation recently announced a new five-year, $150 million fundraising initiative<\/a> to double the amount of financial support \u2013 including merit and need-based scholarships \u2013 that the Foundation raises for the benefit of the student body.<\/p>\n

Wayne Locust, UConn\u2019s vice president for enrollment planning and management, told trustees during the presentation earlier this month that UConn\u2019s financial aid program is guided by four principles:<\/p>\n