- Home >
- Campus News
Proposed budget calls for grant reductions
April 02, 2009
The Washington State proposed budget has some troubling funding trends, or rather lack-there-of, for students attending private colleges.
This proposed budget calls for a freeze or reduction to the State Need Grant for the next two years for those attending a private university.
State Need Grant recipients at the public universities would not be subject to this freeze/reduction.
Students receiving a Pell Grant will see a reduction in the State Need Grant.
The state’s rationale is that because the Pell Grant increase in the federal stimulus package is larger than the increased cost of college, the State Need Grant will be reduced for those students.
Two years of no increase in grant aid will put college further out of sight for more than 7,000 Washington residents.
It seems counterproductive to make private colleges less affordable when anticipated enrollment difficulties are on the horizon at public colleges.
If you have concerns regarding this proposed budget, please contact your legislator. Urge them to treat Washington residents equitably and increase the grant for students at private colleges to recognize their tuition increases.
State Need Grant recipients at the public universities would not be subject to this freeze/reduction.
Students receiving a Pell Grant will see a reduction in the State Need Grant.
The state’s rationale is that because the Pell Grant increase in the federal stimulus package is larger than the increased cost of college, the State Need Grant will be reduced for those students.
Two years of no increase in grant aid will put college further out of sight for more than 7,000 Washington residents.
It seems counterproductive to make private colleges less affordable when anticipated enrollment difficulties are on the horizon at public colleges.
If you have concerns regarding this proposed budget, please contact your legislator. Urge them to treat Washington residents equitably and increase the grant for students at private colleges to recognize their tuition increases.