Archive: Around Town

Aurora, NY - Wells College announced yesterday that it is dropping the published cost of its tuition for all new and returning students by 25%, effective next fall. For all new and returning students, the published tuition will be $29,400 for the 2019–20 year. This new tuition stands in contrast to the 2018–19 published tuition of $39,200.

As the cost of a college education has risen nationwide in recent years, families have become more concerned than ever about the high cost of a private college education. Wells College's new pricing better reflects what students actually pay, after scholarships and other forms of financial aid are factored in — which is especially important given that 99% of Wells students receive some form of financial aid.

"We firmly believe that this tuition reset will help strengthen our ability to compete in the marketplace, and attract new students to enroll at Wells," said Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter. "In other words, it will help reposition the College as a 'right-priced' institution," added Gibralter, who has served as the College's 19th president since July 2015. This initiative was approved unanimously by the Wells College Board of Trustees, who worked closely with President Gibralter and his senior leadership team on the tuition reset.

In all, the published cost of attendance (tuition, fees, and room and board) in 2019–20 will be $45,000 before scholarships, grants and aid are applied; however, the actual cost of attendance for a returning student next fall is expected to remain equal to the out-of-pocket amount for the current 2018–19 year.

"Wells College is a special place. This tuition reset will help more students take the next step in getting to know Wells in a deeper way," said Vice President Of Enrollment Management Kishan Zuber. "They will take a closer look and give us an opportunity to highlight all the magic our College has to offer. Wells is a unique community full of history, personality and potential — and price will no longer be a barrier," Zuber said.

College staff will work closely with current students to inform them about what the reset means for them. During one-on-one counseling sessions that are being offered with financial aid staff beginning Friday, Sept. 7, each student will be provided with a side-by-side comparison showing how their current year's awards compare to their estimated award package for next year.




The College, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, remains firmly committed to providing a personalized, hands-on education to every student. This tuition price reset comes on the heels of a sustained, multi-year effort by the College to improve the student experience. Those improvements include:

• Adding several new majors and minors to its roster of academic programs, including health sciences, sustainability, inclusive early childhood education, and criminal justice. Selected science programs were also expanded, and now include an option for a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in addition to the previously existing bachelor of arts (B.A.) option.
• Unveiling the Hagedorn Learning Commons in Long Library, which provides a centralized, integrated environment for a suite of academic and career support services, including a writing center, peer tutoring, the Center for Academic and Career Advising, a media lab, and much more.
• Renovating and modernizing numerous campus buildings and facilities, including: a complete makeover of Zabriskie Hall in 2015; the renovations to Sommer Student Center which are currently underway; this summer's upgrade of 28 residence hall rooms, the first wave of a planned multiyear effort; the renovation of the Schwartz Athletic Center's gymnasium and addition of the new multi-sport turf field; and completely refurbishing the iconic boathouse, inside and out.

"Our goal with this reset is to ultimately attract more students to Wells, yielding more resources to further support this vibrant, engaged campus community," said Gibralter. "Our alumnae and alumni tell us that a Wells degree gave them an edge in life that they would not have otherwise had. I am confident that this tuition reset will open up that same unparalleled opportunity for an even greater number of future Wells graduates," he added.

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