Last September Geneva College announced the Tuition Promise, ensuring that all eligible Pennsylvania traditional undergraduate students from families earning less than $70,000 annually will pay no tuition at Geneva starting with the incoming class in the fall of 2024.

While the outcomes and value of a Geneva education are evident, previously many families had to forgo the formative education offered because of the risk of investment. As part of Geneva’s ministry of education, the Tuition Promise allows all Pennsylvania families to benefit from the exceptional outcomes of a Geneva education through increased accessibility.

The response has been overwhelming, as reflected by the enrollment numbers for our upcoming year. We anticipate that at least 50 students in our incoming class would not have attended Geneva or any college without the Tuition Promise.

“We know that college affordability is a primary concern for families today,” says Willem de Ruijter MAHE ’14, VP of enrollment and marketing. “We have heard from even more families than we expected who wanted to send their children to college, but simply thought it was unattainable. We are thrilled that the Tuition Promise allows us to welcome so many students from across Pennsylvania this fall.”

Left to Right: Lindsay Courteau, AVP of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement, Willem de Ruijter, VP of Enrollment and Marketing, Robert W. Mecuri, PA State Representative, Tara Verrico, Director of Financial Aid
Left to Right: Lindsay Courteau, AVP of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement, Willem de Ruijter, VP of Enrollment and Marketing, Robert W. Mecuri, PA State Representative, Tara Verrico, Director of Financial Aid

As PA legislators and the higher education industry at large consider the mounting affordability problems students face today, leaders continually look for creative solutions. We are pleased to have been contacted by other colleges and several PA representatives who wish to learn more about the Tuition Promise, with some colleges beginning to adjust their pricing structure in similar ways to our program. Though we hope for improved access to Geneva, our desire is for the Tuition Promise to be modeled across institutions, making higher education affordable and accessible to all students regardless of which school they choose.

Upholding Geneva’s ministry of education requires fiscal stewardship. Geneva’s leadership works diligently to use our funds wisely and faithfully to be sure we are supporting students and furthering the mission of the College. The Tuition Promise is part of that fiscal stewardship as we strategically use resources to serve students’ needs first and foremost.

All students who meet the following criteria automatically receive Geneva’s Tuition Promise:

  • Incoming first-year student
  • Resident of Pennsylvania
  • Application for admission and FAFSA submitted by March 1
  • Household income under $70,000 annually
  • Eligible to receive any amount of Pell Grant

Review eligibility requirements on our website. For questions regarding eligibility, please reach out to our financial aid office.

-Tara Verrico, Director of Financial Aid

The Geneva Story publishes content from a variety of contributors across the Geneva College community. The perspectives, experiences, and conclusions expressed in this content are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of Geneva College, its leadership, or its editorial staff.