If you’ve surveyed the recent lists regarding the most and least expensive private schools in the US, you might still be either hesitant or excited to apply to one of them. Well you can add one more to your list, on the least expensive side.
Antioch College in Yellow Spring, Ohio, is waiving the tuition for all of its students who enroll in the next three years.
But what’s being a student at Antioch College worth? About $106,000 for four years, roughly $26,000 a year.
Some students, who file financial aid applications, will capture an even greater price break. If they qualify, they may get to skip the room and board charges or pay a reduced price. Antioch’s room and board is currently $8,628.
Antioch is not the first college to offer a tuition scholarship. Berea College, the most affordable private school in the country, also does this but also implements a work-study program. Antioch has always had a similar program until it had to close it’s doors in 2008.
Originally founded by abolitionists in 1850, the college shut had to shut down in 2008 after years of decline. Terrible management decisions, among other reasons, led to the closure, but tremendous financial support from dedicated alumni, who were appalled at the closure, led to its reopening.
The college welcomed 35 students into its inaugural freshmen class in 2011 and it hopes to welcome another 65 to 75 students in the fall. The school’s goal is to have about 300 students attending the school by 2015.
“We are a 160-year-old start-up institution with a lot of history,” says Cezar Mesquita, Antioch’s dean of admission and financial aid. The college wants to make an investment in hard-working, engaged students, “who can help restart this great institution.”
Antioch had always been known for its work cooperative program and that tradition has returned. All students will have numerous work opportunities during their four years that include, local, national and international experiences. At this point, the school offers 12 areas of concentration ranging from environmental and health sciences to languages and social sciences.
The inaugural class, which hailed from states throughout the country, had an average unweighted high school GPA of 3.56 and an average ACT score of 27, which is roughly the equivalent of a 1250 on the SAT.
If you’re a high school senior, there is still time to apply! Antioch’s admission deadline is Feb. 15.
