College of St. Mary - Going Against the Grain

What we're doing.

For undergraduate students,

We're reducing tuition.

29,954

Current undergraduates are guaranteed at least

$

0

SAVINGS

IN OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS.

Alumnae

Why is College of Saint Mary reducing tuition? CSM is taking an active role in (and responding to) the national conversation about the rising cost of college tuition, student debt load and the value of a college education. Our goals are to be more accessible and more affordable for students and their families.
How will this benefit me? CSM is going against the grain by taking a stand against the rising cost of college expenses by reducing tuition by 33% and continuing its commitment to no fees following acceptance.
Will you still offer scholarships and financial aid? Yes. We will continue to offer academic merit-based and athletic scholarships, as well as our sliding scale of need-based grants. Contact Enrollment Services to learn more.
I’d like to meet with an admissions counselor. How do I schedule a campus visit? Visit Campus for a personal appointment and campus tour to learn about academics, scholarships and financial aid, athletics, student life and campus living. CSM will host a group Showcase Visit Day on Friday, November 4th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us at Showcase Day.
How do I apply? College of Saint Mary accepts applications on a rolling basis. Get started with your application today!

What does the tuition reduction mean for me? You will save at least $1,000 on your tuition after your CSM scholarships and grants.

This does not change your current financial aid and tuition charges for 2016-2017. The change will start in fall 2017.

As long as you are eligible based on your FAFSA, you will still be awarded federal and state grants and loans in 2017-2018.
Is there anything I need to do to get the tuition reduction? Or for my financial aid? When you register for fall 2017 classes (for at least 12 credit hours), you will automatically be assessed the reduced tuition rate.

Just like in past years, you will need to file your 2017-2018 FAFSA to apply for federal and state financial aid. Once your aid is awarded, you can use our financial aid portal to accept your funds. Please visit the Express Center, or contact us at 402-399-2429 or finaid@csm.edu if you ever have any questions.
When will I find out how much I will actually owe next year? We will mail a letter to show your projected savings by the end of October.

2017-2018 financial aid packages will be available starting in March, as long as your FAFSA has been filed by that time.
Are you going to cut academic programs or student activities and services as a result of the tuition reduction? No. Nothing will be cut from the educational experience in or out of the classroom. CSM will continue to provide high-quality academic programs, co-curricular programs and student services. The generosity of our donors, growth in our graduate programs, and the fact that our institution is financially stable has made this change possible.
Will my degree be perceived as lower quality because the tuition has gone down? No. This tuition reduction will enhance the value of a CSM education, as well as our reputation. We are retaining the high quality of our educational offerings, at a lower tuition rate, thus improving the value proposition for our students and their families.
Will tuition increase next year? For 2018-2019 and beyond, our intention is to keep tuition increases modest to continue to support our commitment to access and affordability.
If you are cutting tuition by $10,000, why don’t I get to save the full $10,000 in tuition reduction? In order to maintain the quality of our academic offerings and our financial stability, the change in tuition policy was partnered with a change in the institutional financial aid policy. With this adjustment, you are saving at least $1,000 in out-of-pocket costs.
How can I refer a friend or family member to join me at CSM? Please tell them to visit www.csm.edu and contact our Enrollment team directly at 402-399-2355.
Who can I thank for the tuition reduction and savings? For the last three years, CSM’s board of directors, senior leadership team and financial services team have reflected upon and studied how CSM might increase affordability of a CSM education. They, in addition to friends and donors of the college, have helped make this possible.
This sounds really beneficial for students and could increase enrollment; does CSM have a plan to accommodate more students? We are developing plans to increase parking and provide alternative residence hall options, should enrollment increase.

I just graduated and paid a much higher price. Is that right? At College of Saint Mary, we will not turn away a woman because of her financial situation. That is nothing new; that will not change. As an alumna, you know just how much we work with our students to ensure everyone has the opportunity to get a quality education. Now, with this initiative, we will continue to make it even more accessible and affordable for the women following in your footsteps.
Why are you doing this now instead of when I attended? CSM has been very disciplined about our spending and has done significant preparation to put us in a place that we can afford to make these price reductions. This fall, CSM had record full-time undergraduate enrollment, our number of graduate students continues to increase, our residence halls are overflowing and we remain debt free. If we had done this before we were prepared, our quality may have suffered.

The cost of higher education has been increasing every year. Our mission calls us to provide an education that is accessible and affordable to all.

We have been moving in this direction for some time. A few years ago, we eliminated fees and reduced the added cost associated with taking more than 18 credit hours per semester. Both of these initiatives were put in place to help our current and future students save money.
If the price is much lower, what are you cutting to make this all work? We have no plans to reduce services or cut programs or personnel.

Given enrollment growth in our new programs and those that are on the horizon, the increased revenue from those programs will assist in making up the revenue.

We expect that our generous donors and alumnae will continue to assist us in providing scholarships to current students with financial need. We are counting on their continued assistance to help with this plan.
Does this mean you don’t need money for scholarships? Given our mission, we believe we will continue to attract and serve many students with significant financial need. As we reduce the burden placed on students and their families, increased support from alumnae and friends is critical to our future success.
Is my degree worth less? No, CSM degrees have always been known for their high quality. Our alumnae had excellent reputations upon graduation, and they still do now. All of our programs have maximum accreditation and our graduates continue to be sought after by employers.

In fact, your degree may become more valuable as College of Saint Mary becomes known nationally for being a leader in reducing tuition costs. This increased recognition may result in greater name recognition for CSM as being a leader in higher education.
Is there anything I can do to support this initiative? Yes, you can promote CSM to prospective students and the general public to let them know what a great education you received from us.

Use social media to let people know about this great news!

Contribute to the ACCESS FUND that provides scholarships for student in need.

information@csm.edu
(402) 399-2400
(800) 926-5534
7000 Mercy Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68106-2377

We're Making a Quality Education More Affordable for You

What we're doing.

$

0

SAVINGS

No fees will
be charged

No woman will
be turned away

Why are we doing it?

I feel empowered here. Like my voice is heard and my opinions matter. We’re encouraged to speak up and be strong.

Kennedy Cascio

We’re not reducing tuition because

we have to.

We’re doing it because it’s the right

thing to do.

CSM wants me to be the very best version of myself, and to help me realize my dream of serving others.

Shabnam Waheed

Frequently Asked Questions

Future Students

Current Students

Alumnae

QUESTIONS?

Thanks for
contacting us.

CONTACT US

Connect with us

QUICK LINKS

We're Making a Quality Education More Affordable for You

What we're doing.

$

0

SAVINGS

No fees willbe charged

No woman willbe turned away

Why are we doing it?

I feel empowered here. Like my voice is heard and my opinions matter. We’re encouraged to speak up and be strong.

Kennedy Cascio

We’re not reducing tuition because

we have to.

We’re doing it because it’s the right

thing to do.

CSM wants me to be the very best version of myself, and to help me realize my dream of serving others.

Shabnam Waheed

Frequently Asked Questions

Future Students

Current Students

Alumnae

QUESTIONS?

Thanks forcontacting us.

CONTACT US

Connect with us

QUICK LINKS

No fees will
be charged

No woman will
be turned away

Thanks for
contacting us.