As colleges and universities across the nation begin to see a decrease in students committing for the fall semester, citing a lack of family funds or an inability to move, some institutions are stepping up to the plate to make higher education more accessible than ever before. 

Southern New Hampshire University recently announced their accelerated plans to make college affordable, stating that, by the fall of 2021, tuition would be down to $10,000. This is a 61% decrease from their current tuition price. SNHU President Paul LeBlanc explained the motivation behind this shift, stating, “…there are even more students who find themselves unable to afford an on-campus experience, and more than ever, students need access to high-quality, affordable degree pathways.” 

To ease the transition into this lower-cost model, SNHU is also covering 100% of tuition for all incoming students, ensuring that those who had planned to start college in the fall will still be able to. 

SNHU has stated that this new $10,000 tuition model will have varying options for students’ needs. These could include a hybrid model split between online and on-campus learning, learning done entirely online, or project-based learning. 

Room and board costs will remain in place, though the university’s statement says that these may be covered by financial aid dollars, if applicable, and that the institution will be taking a longer look at how to lower the cost of room and board long term. This may include “learn while you earn” models that allow students to work while paying for their fees. 

Read SNHU’s full statement here.