ATLANTA — After a successful first year, Agnes Scott College will continue its financial aid program for qualified Georgia students, called The Agnes Solution, next fall.
The merit-based program guarantees $65,000 in financial aid over four years for students entering Agnes Scott next fall, a total of $83,000 when combined with Georgia HOPE Scholarship and Tuition Equalization Grant funds. Students must be residents of Georgia and recipients of the HOPE Scholarship to qualify.
In addition to $15,500 in tuition aid each year, The Agnes Solution also includes a one-time $3,000 Agnes Advantage Award that can be used for an internship, to study abroad or for mentored research after a student completes her sophomore year.
“In these tough economic times, Agnes Scott is continuing to make the education here more affordable for students with this guarantee of The Agnes Solution for HOPE-eligible students,” said Lee Ann Afton, dean of admission for Agnes Scott.
The Agnes Solution proved to be a useful tool to keep more Georgia students in state and at Agnes Scott. The college had its fifth largest first-year class ever this fall—237 students. The number of first-year students from Georgia increased by 37 percent to 126, up from 92 the year before.
“A lot of families worry that a private college education may be out of reach financially,” said Elizabeth Kiss, president of Agnes Scott. “Our goal is to let them know up front that Agnes Scott goes the extra mile to help them pay for college. We provide an outstanding educational experience, with small classes, personal attention from faculty and opportunities to pursue research, internships and study abroad, all at an affordable cost.”
“The Agnes Solution also benefits us as an institution,” Kiss added. “It allows us to attract a wider pool of talented Georgia students who may have otherwise chosen to attend an out-of-state college or a public university and enriches our campus by helping us maintain a more socioeconomically diverse student population than many public universities.”
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Agnes Scott College educates women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times. Students are drawn to Agnes Scott by its excellent academic reputation, exceptional faculty, and metropolitan Atlanta location – offering myriad cultural and experiential learning opportunities. A diverse and growing residential community of scholars, this highly selective liberal arts and sciences college is known for its dynamic and challenging intellectual community. Encouraging students to engage the wider world through study abroad and presenting its curriculum with international context, Agnes Scott College delivers on its promise: The World for Women.