WSU, UW team up to tout college affordability

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A joint marketing campaign by Washington State University and the University of Washington stresses the affordability of a quality college education in the Evergreen State. 

WSU President Kirk Schulz and UW President Ana Mari Cauce are launching an initiative called “Yes, It’s Possible” to dispel the myth that students must incur massive amounts of debt to earn their degrees. The presidents say Washington is second in the country in terms of the amount of dollars that they put into student financial aid, adding that almost half of students graduate and get a four-year degree without any known debt. For the rest, the average amount of debt is about $24,000 – less than the average in many other states.

A new website features stories of students who found success despite financial challenges, as well as financial aid information for all of the state’s public universities, community colleges, and technical schools.

The presidents say many potential students focus on the sticker price of tuition without realizing the range of loans, grants, and scholarships available to them.

According to Washington’s Council of Presidents – which includes the leaders of the state’s six baccalaureate-granting schools – only New Jersey puts more state money per student into need-based grant programs. Still, Washington’s State Need Grant has routinely run out of money before all qualifying students receive aid.

The “Yes, It’s Possible” campaign is expected to run for several months with radio and online ads throughout the state. (Spokesman-Review)

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