APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Generations of future Lawrence students will receive additional help beyond scholarships and federal financial aid.
“Very often folks think about liberal arts education as too expensive or something that’s out of reach,” Lawrence President Laurie Carter said. We want to make sure that everyone knows that a Lawrence education is within their reach.”
The Lawrence Advantage is a tuition program that will start in fall of 2023. It’s entirely funded by donors and school officials hope it will benefit hundreds.
Carter tells FOX 11 it’s a personalized program, focused on addressing individual needs. It only applies to students from Wisconsin and Illinois.
“We want to do our part to support our community in a way that allows them to access education.”
Carter said the program was not a response to the Wisconsin Tuition Promise.
Students must file for financial aid to be eligible. The application will then determine the level of need. The Lawrence Advantage pays for whatever cost is left over after scholarships, grants and federal loans. The amount given to each student will be determined on a case by case basis.
“This is something that we’ve been thinking about for a while,” Carter said. “We went through our process, we announced it when we were ready to announce it. This is ours.”
Students like Kai Frueh say it’s exciting to know more financial support is coming.
“I really think that’s going to help lower income students be able to afford Lawrence because Lawrence is a fairly expensive school to attend.”
According to the University’s website, tuition is $53,667 per year.
“It would make it easier for me and other students to come out of college with less debt, which I think is going to make us have a better playing field,” Frueh said. “We’ll be able to actually invest in our families and our generation.”
About 1,500 students are currently enrolled at Lawrence.
