Strayer University has launched a Graduation Fund,early this month to bear 25 percent of the total tuition costs for dedicated students enrolled in any of the undergraduate degree program, effective July 1. The university has also frozen tuition through next year.
"College affordability is a significant issue for many students across the country, and can become a big obstacle on their way to earning a degree," said Michael Plater, president of Strayer University. "If a student is willing to put in the time and hard work to earn a degree, we are equally committed to supporting them through their graduation."
After a student completes three courses successfully he/she will earn a Tuition Award that will fund a course at the end of the degree program. For example, if a student requires 40 credits to complete a degree program, he/she will be conferred with the tuition award for their last 10 from their respective degree program.
At Strayer, graduate degree programs are $2,325 per course, part-time undergraduate programs costs $1,775 per course and full-time undergraduate programs are estimated to be at $1,700 per course.
For the past few years, the university has witnessed a poor graduation rate of 40 percent compared to 65 percent in the UNC system.
Karl McDonnell, chief executive officer of Strayer Education Inc, said that this program has been introduced to reward students who are seriously committed to completing their degrees and to increase access to education for working adults by lowering tuition costs.
McDonnell said that the university is not trying to improve its graduation rate as it wants to award degrees to those who deserve it.
