RIPON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Ripon College is unveiling a two-thirds cut in the cost of college.
It’s designed to keep more local high school graduates in the area.
Students in four counties, surrounding Ripon College and headed to campus next fall would save $36,000. The discount is available to graduating seniors in Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Green Lake, and Dodge counties.
“Private College. Public school price” is what the school has coined this pilot program.
Jennifer Machacek, vice president of enrollment at Ripon College, tells FOX 11 the offer is for students at schools like Oshkosh North, Fond du Lac, Berlin, and more.
“They’re really missing a tremendous opportunity here at Ripon, with what we all have to offer, just based on one thing that they’re seeing, and that’s actually not what they end up paying when they come here. Very few families are paying that sticker cost.”
Sticker price at Ripon College is $55,776 per year right now.
College leaders say the new incentive brings that cost down to no more than $19,776 for high school graduates in that four-county region.
And Machacek says the savings may not end there.
“They’re still eligible to apply for financial aid, to be considered for grants, loans and work-study, so that cost might even come down a little bit.”
About a sixth of Ripon College’s 780 students are from Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Green Lake, and Dodge counties.
“For those that are thinking, ‘I’m gonna go farther away. I can do it for a better price,’ we want to make sure that they understand that they definitely have a wonderful opportunity right here in their backyard at a price tag that’s very competitive,” Machacek said.
Machacek believes $36,000 in savings will keep more high school graduates in the area.
“Price is something that every family is talking about from the beginning of their college search process.”
Students who are transferring to Ripon College in the 2020-2021 school year are also eligible for the $36,000 discount, as long as they graduated from one of the eligible high schools.
