Decision represents an institution-wide effort to ease financial pressures on current and prospective Centenary students

Centenary University has announced that it will freeze tuition at current levels for the 2024-2025 academic year for undergraduate and graduate programs in response to financial pressures facing families of current and prospective students. In addition, the University has pledged to also freeze the amount students pay to live in the residence halls. Costs for Centenary’s student meal plan will rise by six percent, a reflection of rising food prices passed on by the University’s food service provider. 

“At Centenary, we are very aware that families today are dealing with rising costs for many of life’s basic necessities—housing, food, and transportation,” said Karolina Wolfe, vice president and chief operating officer. “With this year’s delays in processing FAFSA applications, our students—many of whom are first-generation college students—had no idea how much federal financial aid to expect. The national economy is tough for everyone right now, and Centenary hopes to remove some of the uncertainty about paying for college.”

 During the academic year that ended on June 30, Centenary took several steps to help make tuition more manageable for students across all of its programs. Through Centenary Now: The Campaign for College & Opportunity for Everyone, Centenary raised more than $100,000 from an anonymous donor for scholarships for first-generation college students, as well as those facing economic challenges. In addition, the Reeves Foundation 2-for-1 Challenge will generate $1 million—$667,000 in Centenary contributions and a $333,000 challenge gift from the foundation—to fund scholarships for Overlook Hospital registered nurses to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Centenary. Through the $8 million capital campaign, the University also launched a new Working Degree Program with discounted tuition for working adults pursuing specified bachelor’s degrees. 

For incoming students, last spring Centenary introduced Cyclone Concierge, which provides a 5% tuition discount to incoming first-year students who submit their deposits by published dates. Through Cyclone Concierge, students who make their deposits are also linked with academic and student life advisors immediately to select fall classes and finalize residential housing arrangements, if needed. 

Each year, Centenary awards approximately $20 million in scholarships, grants, and awards to students. At the University, 100 percent of incoming first-year students receive a grant or scholarship, with the average award totaling over $28,000. For transfer students, over 95 percent receive a grant or scholarship, with the average award totaling over $20,000. “That’s the power of attending a small university like Centenary,” said Dale Caldwell, Ed.D, president. “We work directly with students to ensure that they receive the financial assistance necessary to achieve their dream of earning a college degree.”

ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY 
Centenary University offers extraordinary learning opportunities that empower students to develop intellectually, emotionally, and interculturally—keys to career and personal success. Under the leadership of President Dale Caldwell, Ed.D., the University aspires to advance its reputation as a world class institution offering innovative programs, including the world’s first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, to lift the future for our students and local communities.