For millions of low-income families, sending a student to a private university is next to impossible. Santa Clara University says it has a plan to change that.
Beginning next fall, any California applicant who is accepted into the South Bay university and whose family earns less than $150,000 a year will receive a free college education as part of the university’s recently expanded California Promise program.
“As a Jesuit institution, the university has made a commitment to try to meet 100% of demonstrated need of students,” said Cindy Tirado, the university’s director of financial aid.
In addition to qualifying for admittance, eligible families also have to possess assets worth less than $120,000. Final eligibility will be determined using the applicant’s Federal Student Aid application, known as FAFSA.
“I think a lot of times people think private college isn’t unattainable,” Tirado said. “This would make it attainable for a lot of families that don’t see us as a possibility. It’s going to be able to get them access to an education that they never thought they could have.”
