| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 42.88 |
| Liaison | Jim Simon |
| Submission Date | June 28, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Gonzaga University
PA-8: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.07 / 4.00 |
Jim
White Dean Student Financial Services |
Does the institution have policies and programs in place to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
Gonzaga provides $80 million of its tuition revenue to provide grants and scholarships to needy students to enable them to attend. Funds are awarded to students based on their family contribution as demonstrated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA). Low income students can also access federal and state grants to help them afford to attend.
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
The Act Six Program, an urban leadership program, is targeted toward inner city youth from Tacoma and Spokane. Students are provided with grants and scholarships to cover their need or tuition whichever is greater. Mentoring and pre-college preparatory programs are provided by the program. Gonzaga University provides financial support and student service support to enrolling students.The Gonzaga Scholars program provides grants to students who are Pell eligible and need additional funding to attend Gonzaga University.
A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
Gonzaga University partners with the Act Six Program which provides mentoring and support to urban youth who strive to attend college. The program works with the students while they are enrolled in high school to prepare them to succeed in college.
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
Gonzaga University awards merit scholarships to students ranging from $6000 to $20,000 based on a student’s application materials, high school curriculum, grades and test scores. The Act Six scholarship covers full need for students from low income, urban backgrounds. Community Scholars and Gonzaga Scholars are awarded to students from diverse backgrounds who have demonstrated excellence in their high school.
A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
Gonzaga University has staff available in the financial aid office to help parents navigate their way through the financial aid process. Gonzaga University also has a Parent & Family Office that provides support to parents of current students.
A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Gonzaga University has partnered with the Act Six Scholarship Program which reaches out to low-income, urban youth with academic and leadership potential. There are full-tuition scholarships for 8 students, however this program has given us access to nearly 400 applicants per year from low-income areas and many of those students will receive admission and healthy financial aid packages from Gonzaga University even if they do receive the award.
GU participates in the College Success Foundation programs https://www.collegesuccessfoundation.org/, government funded programs like AVID, local college engagement programs like T-2-4 and regional programs such as scholarship programs in Colorado (the Challenge Foundation), the California Bay Area (Students Rising Above) , Tacoma and Seattle (Rainer Scholars).
A brief description of other admissions policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
Each year, the Office of Admission does a fly-in program for Gonzaga Experience Live (GEL) Weekend where we bring low-income and underrepresented students to campus for GEL Weekend to help students in decision making for college by providing a visit. Gonzaga also has grant-based funding for low- income students through the Gonzaga Scholars Program in Financial Aid.
A brief description of other financial aid policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
GU locks in the amount of institutional aid the student receives so that they never receive less money in a subsequent academic year provided the student continues to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements.
A brief description of other policies and programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students not covered above:
Does the institution have policies and programs in place to support non-traditional students?:
A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
N/A
A brief description of any onsite child care facilities, partnerships with local facilities, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:
N/A.
A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
Gonzaga University has an Office of Transfer, Veteran, and Returning Adult Services that seeks to meet the needs of these important populations.
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (accessibility and affordability indicators)?:
Indicators that the institution is accessible and affordable to low-income students::
| Percentage (0-100) | |
| The percentage of entering students that are low-income | 13.40 |
| The graduation/success rate for low-income students | 80.70 |
| The percentage of student financial need met, on average | 78 |
| The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt | 35 |
The percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students:
The website URL where information about the institution's affordability and access programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.