UNE announces free tuition for low-income but successful students

Starting next fall, high-achieving students from low-income families will be able to attend the University of New England for free.

The private university in Biddeford and Portland announced the program Monday, following a series of similar moves by colleges across the country. President James Herbert said it is a continuation of the university’s long-standing mission to make education more accessible to low-income and first-generation students.

“Simply put, our goal is to provide access to this transformative educational experience to as many students as possible,” Herbert said.

To be eligible for free tuition at UNE, students must have an annual household income of less than $100,000 and a Student Aid Index of 0. This number is calculated by the FAFSA to determine aid eligibility. Students must enroll full-time and live on campus for all four years of study.

Students also need an unweighted high school GPA of at least 3.85 to qualify. Once admitted, they will have to maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA to remain eligible. Free tuition is not retroactive for current UNE students. The program covers up to four years of education, but does not include room and board expenses.

According to UNE, 21 current students are eligible for free tuition, while last year about 75 applicants met the criteria. But the university hopes the offer will attract more qualified applicants. General set this year

Herbert expects the number of new students attracted by the program to be “in the tens, not the hundreds.” And he said the university’s cost should be only a few thousand dollars per student, since students eligible for free tuition are already eligible for need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships. Herbert said 98% of UNE students already receive some form of financial aid.

“We only have limited funds, so this is our first step, but I really hope the program will grow over time,” Herbert said.

He said funding for the free tuition comes from donations – both alumni and independent supporters – as well as the school’s institutional financial aid budget. The university is running a fundraising campaign that Herbert said is aimed at raising money for student scholarships.

“It’s just a matter of funds,” he said. “This is not a philosophical thing at all, I would like to be able to apply it retroactively to current students. We just have to start somewhere.”

He said the same is true for students with a GPA below 3.85, which is another expansion he hopes to see if the university has a successful first year and has the funds to expand the program.

UNE was one of half a dozen schools in the United States, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Texas system, that announced free tuition for students this week. At MIT, any student whose family makes less than $200,000 a year can attend for free starting in the fall. Herbert said that while MIT is a highly selective university with a huge endowment, UNE is focused on providing free tuition with access and workforce in mind.

“Maine in particular has significant workforce gaps,” Herbert said. He said UNE considered itself critical in supplying the aging nation with professionals such as marine biologists, computer scientists, supply chain managers and especially doctors. UNE has the only medical school in the state and is the largest provider of medical professionals in Maine.

“The point of it on the student’s part is to help them,” Herbert said. “But on a macro state level, we are helping Maine by attracting students.”

Starting in 2022, Maine offers free tuition at state community colleges. This program applies to students who graduate from high school between 2020 and 2025.

This story will be updated.

Copy the link to the story