Comparing the growth of tuition and financial aid

At the end of last semester, Muhlenberg raised tuition by 4.9 percent, along with some of its financial aid.

Gregory Mitton, Associate Dean of Admission/Director of Financial Aid, expanded on the expenses a college needs to balance. He gave examples such as this past year’s addition of new majors and departments including Public Health and Neuroscience, along with new faculty needed to staff those departments. They also had to pay for the remodeling of the Hillside House, the construction of The Courts, and the improvement of the Wifi. Additional funding needs included Title IX—anti-sexual discrimination training—and international student recruitment. Finally, they also increased financial aid for all four classes, as well as additions to salaries and benefits for faculty and staff, operating budget and infrastructure expenses.

“As a result,” said Mitton, “the College is in a constant balancing act to support and sustain an outstanding student experience, while also working to control costs.”

The College’s financial aid budget also increases every year. This past year, the school granted $44 million in financial aid, up from $40 million in the 2015-2016 school year. This money comes from alumni and parents’ gifts to the College, grants, scholarships, and loans from various sources, and student employment. Of the 90 percent of students who receive financial aid, 35 percent receive merit-based rewards, and 500 students participate in work-study. Even those who don’t receive money directly from the school benefit from subsidies from gifts from parents and alumni and Muhlenberg’s endowment.

Over the course of a student’s stay at Muhlenberg, a student’s financial aid package should stay relatively the same, explained Mitton.

“The promise we make to students is that if your need remains consistent and you are doing what you need to do academically and socially, your aid will remain relatively consistent from one year to the next,” said Mitton.

Rebecca Finkelman ‘18, actually received more merit scholarships as her grades improved.

“As I got better grades it [my financial aid] has kind of gone up,” said Finkelman.

However, some students, actually quite a few interviewed, said they did not receive financial aid, such as Sarah Merlo ‘17.

“I didn’t qualify, even though only one of my parents is working,” said Merlo.

Her father is retired and her mother is a mechanical engineer. She said she would only receive more aid if her sister were to start college, although she won’t until after Merlo graduates.

“It [the tuition raise] makes it more difficult for my family,” said Merlo.

A few of the students interviewed reported that their parents handled their tuition and they were unaware of their own financial aid position. Although it is something a lot of parents handle, students seem hesitant to talk about it, as Emily Strickberger ‘19, pointed out.

“It’s not a casual lunchtime conversation,” Strickberger said.

Students who have questions about their financial aid package can contact the financial aid office at finaid@muhlenberg.edu or call at 484-664-3175.