USC to Waive Tuition for Low-Income Students

Though the private university’s new initiative, students who come from families that make $80,000 a year or less will be able to attend for free.

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The University of Southern California— one of the most expensive colleges in the country— announced on Thursday It will waive tuition for students whose families make under $80,000 a year.

In an effort to offer more opportunities for low-income students, USC is following in the footsteps of other colleges like the University of California, Harvard, and Stanford—all of which offer tuition-free admission for families who make under a certain amount of money annually.

“We really want this to be an institution where great students can attend regardless of their financial background,” said USC President Carol Folt. “Education should be the great bridge across income that really is the equalizer and makes our talented, hardworking students able to make real contributions.”

USC is also eliminating the home equity requirement on financial aid applications because of the housing market increasing prices of homes in California while salaries mostly stayed the same. The removal of home equity could make a major difference in how much aid the student is offered. Stanford also removed the requirement.

In 2019, USC was the ninth most expensive college in the U.S. Tuition alone costs $57,256 per year, not including housing, food, and books/ supplies. The school is using $30 million in financial aid for the new initiative and Folt says she hopes to add another $1 billion over the next several years.

USC recently made headlines after members of its staff were indicted in the college admissions bribery scandal, where children of wealthy and influential parents (some celebrities included) were admitted to universities with false test scores and athletic achievements.

The private institution’s new tuition policy will begin in fall 2020 and spring 2021 for first-year students. Transfer students will not be eligible for the tuition waiver.