September 30, 2020
Written by Public Relations & Communications Strategist Jill Wilson
Augustana announced today that the university will not increase undergraduate student tuition for the 2021-22 academic year. Augustana’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor of the tuition freeze at its meeting on Saturday, September 19, recognizing the challenges placed on students and their families due to COVID-19.
President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin stated, “Augustana University has been and continues to be deeply committed to access and affordability. We are doing everything possible to contain costs while maintaining our commitment to excellence in all aspects of academics and student life. The tuition freeze for the year ahead adds yet another layer of support for our students and parents as we continue to navigate the widespread disruption and ongoing uncertainty of the global health crisis.”
The tuition freeze, decided on by the Board of Trustees, mitigates a roughly $1,000 increase students would have normally incurred.
Director of Undergraduate Enrollment Madeleine Titze said, “The timing of this decision allows us to provide prospective students with information regarding their actual cost of attendance at AU, not just an estimate, earlier in the admission process.
“Our goal is to provide students and families with cost and financial aid information as early as possible. This is an important investment and it's only fair to students and families that we allow them as much time to plan as possible,” added Tresse Evenson, director of financial aid.
While COVID-19 has challenged everyone in new ways, financing a college education is not a new concern for most families; therefore, Augustana has a long standing commitment to assist students and parents in finding the resources to make AU an affordable investment. At Augustana, 100 percent of students receive academic, talent and/or need-based financial assistance, with more than $33 million awarded in scholarships, grants, loans and work study annually.
This fall, Augustana also unveiled an updated process for scholarship awarding which determines a students’ academic scholarship based on their cumulative high school GPA or standardized test score, as well as a three-year match for recipients of the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship. In addition, the university will continue its test-optional admission policy — providing students an alternative to presenting standardized test scores and further highlighting its holistic approach to admission decisions.
To determine full financial aid eligibility, interested high school seniors should submit Augustana’s free Application for Admission and Scholarships. Students can apply for need-based assistance by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) starting October 1.