This seems like the first step for UA to release the cutoff scores for the automatic scholarships which will be applicable in the next admissions cycle. Tuition increases to $5,085 per semester for in-state students, and to $12,975 per semester for out of state students.
For those OOS kids who are eligible for the Presidential, the four-year value of that scholarship will be $103,800, so Bama has officially crossed the six-digit number on that award. Hopefully, the UA scholarship page will be updated shortly. I know there are a number of parents like myself of high school rising seniors who are crossing their fingers that the cutoff test scores for the Presidential don’t change.
Of related interest, there is an interesting story about how after emphasizing growing the undergraduate student body, Bama wants to manage future growth particularly in the areas of research dollars and its graduate programs. Other than somehow increasing the undergraduate graduation rate, (which trails its SEC peers like Florida, Georgia and A&M), improving the depth of the graduate programs would improve the institution’s academic rankings and reputation.
If you go on the website for u Alabama Out of state scholarships, there is a chat window to get immediate answers to questions. If you find out about any new cut offs, please post! http://scholarships.ua.edu
FYI, my son and I just spoke face-to-face with Bama’s Houston, Texas recruiter at a college fair in Katy, Texas. The recruiter told us that the cutoff scores will remain the same.
Tuition tends to rise every year. UA has already been paying more than 100k for four years of tuition for the many students who take more than 16 credits in a semester.
I can think of three or four “items” that could cause UA to reduce merit scholarships. The first, is that UA reputation/faculity/facilities/etc. grows to a point that it can start reducing merit-aid, while still being able to recruit its targeted group of students. This is the preferred scenario.
The second would be due to a reduction in funding from the state. To make up for a lack of funding, UA will likely need to reduce some merit aid. The next would be a shift in UA’s strategy, causing it take some funding from merit scholarships and use it for faculty, grad students, facilities, etc.
The final reason would be due to a need to increase need-based aid vs. merit based aid.
Since 2007, in-state tuition would have increase from around $5,278 to $10+K a year. This hasn’t really mattered to those being awarded merit scholarships, but it does impact those who are not. Especially in-state students who may have been awarded little to no need-based aid (like Pell Grants). UA meets about 55% of need. Unless you’re awarded a merit scholarship, UA proves to be one of the most expensive flagships in the southeast.
UA has to balance it’s funding between need-based aid and merit-based aid. Right now it’s heavily leaning toward merit aid. If it doesn’t start addressing this gap, expect more articles like the following to start popping up (notice the “spin” in the article’s title)…
State Universities Shift Scholarships to Rich Kids, and Away From Needy Students
I really need to figure out how to do tables…below gives you an idea of UA cost vs. it’s peers in the southeast.
Average Net Price for Full-Time Beginning In-state students (By Income, 2012-2013) University of Alabama
$0 – $30,000 $17,206
$30,001 – $48,000 $19,960
$48,001 – $75,000 $21,363
$75,001 – $110,000 $23,115
$110,001 and more $23,748
University of Mississippi
$0 – $30,000 $10,647
$30,001 – $48,000 $13,614
$48,001 – $75,000 $17,369
$75,001 – $110,000 $18,011
$110,001 and more $18,063
University of Florida
$0 – $30,000 $8,111
$30,001 – $48,000 $8,466
$48,001 – $75,000 $9,247
$75,001 – $110,000 $12,400
$110,001 and more $16,912
University of Georgia
$0 – $30,000 $8,004
$30,001 – $48,000 $10,404
$48,001 – $75,000 $12,809
$75,001 – $110,000 $14,196
$110,001 and more $14,319
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
$0 – $30,000 $7,908
$30,001 – $48,000 $10,774
$48,001 – $75,000 $17,476
$75,001 – $110,000 $18,874
$110,001 and more $19,270
Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state/local government, or institutional grant or scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies, and the weighted average for room and board and other expenses.
@Gator88NE I love reading your posts, they are educational and your arguments are all well-supported. I might not always agree with your conclusions, but I respect the effort you put into substantiating and providing data to support your posts.