I received a non-resident, academic scholarship ($8,000 per school year). The university I attend has changed its tuition rates for out-of-state students (lowered it to align more with in-state) and eliminated the non-resident academic scholarship. The only criteria for my scholarship are: maintain a minimum GPA (which I have exceeded); live on campus (which I do) and maintain a full schedule each semester (which I do). No correspondence with the university or on its website relating to my scholarship ever indicated that it could be eliminated arbitrarily (in this case, b/c of the rate restructure). In fact, their website still posts the non-resident, academic scholarship with some revisions. My question specifically is whether or not an academic scholarship constitutes an implied contract that now has been unilaterally broken.
Before you jump into using inflammatory language like “implied contract that now has been unilaterally broken”, why don’t you simply call them and ask if u get to keep the merit scholarship?
You’ll have to contact the school and ask. But, is the new OOS rate the same or less than the amount you were paying? If it’s not, maybe you can ask for that amount.
We have contacted the university and they responded that they are going to look into it. We simply are trying to determine if an academic scholarship qualifies as an implied contract.
The OOS amount is less. However, the continuance of this scholarship lessens the overall loan exposure.
Oh please. It’s not a “contract”. Colleges change financial aid awarding policies all the time…year after year. Usually it doesn’t affect current students…but sometimes it does. Read the letter that awarded you the scholarship. What does it say?
And of course the ultimate answer will come from your college.
And really what you are saying is that the only thing that would increase would be your student loan? Is that correct?
In the same way that a college announcing that next year’s tuition is 20,000-- but that the year after, tuition will be reviewed and is likely NOT going to be 20,000, colleges reserve the right to amend, alter, or change any financial aid policy or program on an annual basis.
Annual basis. You would have an argument if the policy changed mid-year… assuming that the language on the award letter stated that the program covered two semesters. But I am not aware of any college which essentially commits to 8 semesters of a financial aid award upfront.
Besides one of the military academies. Which in fact- commit to their tuition (free) upfront for four years.
It sounds like the OP wants the academic scholarship AND the reduced tuition rate for OOS students.
I’m sorry, but that seems unreasonable to me.
@blossom some schools,OU and UTD for National Merit give “tuition waivers” to protect against future tuition hikes, of course they can always increase “fees” 
It can be argued that the merit scholarship, which was a 4 year award incentive for you to attend, is a contract that the school should uphold as long as the student meets the required terms: GPA maintenance, full time status, etc.
BUT…the school could just come back and say, "sure, you can have the full merit scholarship, but you’ll be paying the OOS rate at which the scholarship was awarded.
The award was for four years providing that I fulfilled three basic criteria: 1) Live on campus; 2) achieve a certainGPA, and be a fulltime student. According to the original award, those were the only criteria. I met and surpassed each of these three requirements. Moreover, the school is providing the scholarship to incoming freshman, but says they are discontinuing it for students already enrolled. That’s not fair.
So, you stated that you know the scholarship is discontined for students already enrolled, but you contacted the school and they are looking into “it”. What are they looking into?
Are you considering legal action and your post is seeking legal advice?
How much did the school lower OOS tuition? If they lowered it by 8K then I can understand their reasoning, If they lowered it by less than 8K I would try to get them to give you the difference. But, it can’t hurt to ask for the full 8K, which you have done.
What exactly will you have to take out in loans, @MondayMonday ?
What was the cost INCREASE this year for tuition at your school?
In life you will find that “fair is not always equal”. In other words…just because something applies to someone else, does NOT mean it will apply to you.
As an attorney, I think it may well be a contract or the equivalent, if OP signed up to attend the college in reliance on this scholarship and the “deal” it involved. If it were I, I’d be fighting this tooth and nail, and I think I’d win. And I suspect that’s why the school is “looking into it”. They know they’re on shaky ground. OP, don’t cave on this.
I am confused. Was the scholarship intended to make the tuition for an OOS student the same as the tuition for an in state student? If so, are the OOS and instate tuition amounts now the same? In that case, the scholarship is no longer necessary, as there is no gap to bridge. If there is still a gap, then I would think the scholarship should be the amount of the gap. However, I would need to see the actual terms of the scholarship, which should have been in a letter of offer.
Yes, and if the scholarship does no longer apply you would also be free to live off campus with roommates, would that be cheaper than living on campus?
I agree that it can be a contract if it was offered as a term to enroll.
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Moreover, the school is providing the scholarship to incoming freshman, but says they are discontinuing it for students already enrolled. That’s not fair.
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This is new info. If this is true, you should get the merit.
Sometimes there is specific language on the website saying that the nonresident award may change as in state or out of state tuition rates change. For example, the U of Kentucky has a $8000 nonresident tuition award and at the bottom of the website the possibility that (eligibility for) the award might change as tuition rates change is mentioned.
Here is another one for “up to” $8000, which suggests that the award could be less than $8000.
Instead of looking for implied contracts, I would be more interested in seeing the actual language describing the award online or in the OP’s offer letter.
What stops this school after “looking into it” to announce that for continuing OOS students that were awarded this scholarship the OOS tuition stays the same as it was when the scholarship was awarded?
If they are inundated with the similar requests they may go for it.