Since we cannot forecast the economy, it is important that all options are kept open when thinking about the future. With need- and merit-based scholarships, private universities can be more affordable than they may initially appear. Stevens provides more than $30 million in financial assistance to 93% of our students, and last year’s incoming class had an average Stevens grant and/or scholarship of nearly $20,000. Our financial aid is a part of our operating budget and therefore not heavily influenced by the fluctuations in our endowment. As a result, aid will be available for next year’s incoming class and will be increased proportionally with any tuition increases.

Stevens is committed to recognizing the difficulties families face in meeting college expenses. Even prior to the economic downturn we made the decision to ask our families to complete the CSS/PROFILE, which allows you to provide a more comprehensive picture of your family financial situation than the FAFSA provides, so that we can award aid in a fair and timely manner.

Stevens is a direct loan school which means our students and parents borrow directly from the federal government, eliminating banks and other third party lenders. Another alternative that is not impacted by the tightening of the credit market is the NJCLASS Loan, which is available to all students attending college in New Jersey.

The world will be entirely different when the class of 2013 graduates from Stevens. The decisions made now regarding where to apply to college will ultimately determine how well-equipped students will be to take advantage of all the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Our graduates are consistently sought after by top companies and have starting salaries that are well above the national average, even in the most trying of economic times.

We understand that you have a lot of questions and we want you to know that we are here to help. That’s why we have created a frequently asked questions page on how to financing a Stevens education. Of course if you still have questions, please feel free to contact at 800-458-5323 or admissions@stevens.edu or visit our website at www.stevens.edu/admissions.