A Message from Dr. David Steele on Additional Financial Aid for the Fall 2020 Semester

Dear Woodbury Students:

It has been our heritage for over 135 years to cater to the lower socio-economic and under-represented students in our nation. We take pride in our long history of educating a culturally and socio-economically diverse cross-section of students that reflects our commitment to social justice. In Fall 2019, 63% of the entering class of undergraduate students were ethnic minorities; and 85% of our entering students received financial aid.

In addition, when you compare Woodbury’s gross tuition, fees, room and board versus peer universities, we are the lowest in cost of comparable private universities of our size. We work hard to maintain this ranking and the access it provides many students that couldn’t otherwise afford private higher education. Please see the chart on our website:  https://woodbury.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees/cost-of-attendance/

To continue helping our students due to the unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic and related financial challenges, we have decided to provide additional financial aid to all students for the Fall 2020 semester. In addition, there will be free on-campus parking. We will credit each registered undergraduate and graduate student $300 in additional financial aid.

This increased financial aid applies only to full-time students. Part-time students will receive an allocation of this aid.

Please recall that the distribution to students from the CARES Act earlier this year averaged about $575 per student; we provided emergency financial support through the Covid-19 Student Emergency Fund; and we recently created the Social Justice Scholarship Fund.

In addition, ASWU recently put out a communication on “Where Does My Money Go?” based on audited operational expenditures for the 2019 fiscal year. While audited financials for the 2020 fiscal year will not be available until later this year, scholarships/financial aid in 2020 has increased by over $2 million compared to 2019. Please see the chart and explanation on the ASWU website:  https://www.aswu.woodbury.edu/wheredoesyourmoneygo

Students who have applied for room and board will receive this increased financial aid for the Fall 2020 semester; and will receive additional communication on any housing and meal refunds.

At this time, it is difficult to predict what the economic and Covid-19 environment will be in the Spring 2021 semester and we will communicate with you later in 2020 as circumstances dictate.

Please understand that we are doing our utmost to help our students financially during these unpredictable times. We are determined to make your experience at Woodbury in 2020 an outstanding one in keeping with our 135-year legacy of excellence in higher education.

Sincerely,

David Steele-Figueredo, Ph.D.
President
Woodbury University

Last Updated on August 14, 2020