FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Nichole Johnson
Director of media relations and communication
Capital University (614) 236-6945
Cell: (614) 440-9158
Capital University Announces Affordability Initiative
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Capital University has announced its lowest tuition increase in at least a decade and a $2.6 million increase in financial aid to help students and their families afford a Capital education.
“We believe in the value of a Capital education, and we believe the world benefits from Capital graduates. So we’re removing a couple of barriers to help students achieve their dreams through Capital,” President Denvy A. Bowman, Ph.D., said.
Along with the marginal tuition increase of 2.9 percent, the University also announced the creation of three new grants – one to help incoming students and two to help returning students. All of the measures are specific to traditional undergraduate students.
The Capital Connect Grant is a pool of funds that will be awarded to new students based on need. Incoming students also will benefit from a policy change that will allow the Financial Aid Office to award them endowed and restricted scholarship funds over and above the university-funded aid students receive, and not as a replacement of it.
Returning students will benefit from the Capital Success Grant, funding that will increase returning students’ institutional aid from Capital proportionally to the tuition increase, helping to offset the additional cost of tuition.
Also easing the burden for returning students is the newly created Capital Retention Grant, which will be available to all returning students who are Ohio residents and will help replace some of the funding they will lose as a result of anticipated state cuts to the Ohio Student Choice Grant.
Capital sent letters from the President’s Office to the homes of students early this week informing them of the affordability initiative. Bowman also sent an internal e-mail to university employees announcing the affordability measures and several steps the University is taking to counterbalance the additional expense, including a temporary hiring freeze.
“Extending this level of support to students requires a worthwhile, but significant financial investment for the university,” Bowman wrote.
Planned construction of a new Admission Center on the Mound Street Mall, renovated façade and upgrades to the arts and communication academic building and residence halls, and the transformation of the Campus Center Mezzanine into student recreation space will proceed as scheduled because of their “immediate and positive impact on new student recruitment and on the living and learning experience of existing students.”
Located in Columbus, Ohio, Capital University prepares students for meaningful lives and careers by helping them achieve their full potential educationally, professionally and personally through a strong core curriculum grounded in the liberal arts and deep professional programs that develop specialized skills relevant in a global marketplace and reflective of a global community. Influenced by its Lutheran heritage, Capital University places great emphasis on the free, open and civil exchange of ideas, seeking out diverse perspectives, active participation in society, and leadership and service.
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