The University of Arizona announced their “Pell Pledge Grant,” which aims to make college more affordable by covering the full cost of tuition for eligible, in-state students starting in the fall of 2020.
To qualify for the grant, a student must be an Arizona resident, qualify for Federal Pell Grants, which are given to students with financial need, and attend the school’s main campus in Tucson.
Applicants must also be domestic, first-time freshmen and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 of their senior year of high school.
The Pell Pledge Grant was created to focus on the statewide need for tuition assistance for low-income families and students who encounter debt at higher rates than the national average.
The university hopes the new grant will help more students from low-income families obtain the tuition assistance they need to attend the school.
“Student success is the most important way the University of Arizona serves our state, and it is crucial that all students who wish to pursue their higher education goals at Arizona have the support needed to make that happen,” university president Robert C. Robbins said in a statement.
Kasey Urquidez, vice president of enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions, highlighted her own experience at the school to underscore the importance of the grant.
“I came to the University of Arizona as a first-generation student from a small Arizona town, so I personally understand the impact that recruiting, enrolling and supporting Arizona’s diverse and high-potential students can have,” Urquidez said in a statement.
Last year, roughly one-third of University of Arizona students were eligible for Pell Grants, and Urquidez told the Arizona Daily-Star that Pell-eligible students typically make up 40% of the in-state freshman class.
Keya Vakil Keya is a reporter at COURIER, where he covers everything from healthcare to climate change. Prior to joining Courier Newsroom, Keya worked as a researcher in the film industry and dabbled in the political world.
