Financial Aid
By Lauren Seynhaeve
At least 95 percent of UP students receive some sort of financial aid, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Whether it is a loan, work study, an ROTC scholarship, a grant or another type of scholarship either from the school or from an outside source, the typical UP student could not afford to attend UP without financial aid.
The amount of UP financial aid varies from student to student, ranging from none to a full ride. Many students are happy with their financial aid package, while others hate the system.
While the financial aid system at UP can be confusing, most UP students receive some type of financial help. The amount of students who applied for financial aid doubled this year to a total of about 7,300, according to Director of Financial Aid Janet Turner.
"I think I'm one of the lucky ones, but I also think I'm in the majority as far as being well-helped," senior Alyssa Reget said. "I have a good scholarship and grants, and I wouldn't be able to go here without the scholarship."
Reget finds the method by which aid is distributed difficult to understand and poorly explained.
Senior Adrienne Jarvis agrees that the system is confusing, and she feels that the financial aid system at UP is mediocre.
"Unfortunately for me, and for a vast majority of other students, my family is neither rich nor poor," she said. "We are on the cusp, and because of that, we don't benefit from the university's assistance."
Need-based financial aid is awarded according to the cost of attendance minus the expected family contribution. Grants and merit-based scholarships are awarded according to predetermined criteria.
"We are trying to make sure that students get the best package they are eligible for," Turner said.
Many UP students get a full scholarship from the ROTC program.
Freshman Mathew Hill is in Army ROTC, which pays for tuition, housing, food, books and includes a monthly stipend.
"I grew up pretty poor, so I always thought I'd just enlist," he said. "This is a complete life changing-thing."
Although there is the added pressure of passing Physical Training, lest the scholarship is revoked, and four years of active duty and another four of inactive duty minimum after graduation, the ROTC scholarship is a way for many students to get a college education with no personal financial burden.
"Especially with the recent increase of tuition and housing, it's just not a stressor for us in ROTC," he said.
In addition to UP financial aid, many students receive outside scholarships. According to Turner, in 2008-2009, students received a total of $1,953,233 in outside scholarships, and this year, students received a total of $2,047,289. About 500 students receive outside scholarships.
