Tuition Adjustment Frequently Asked Questions
I’m already a student at King’s. How will these changes affect me?
The bills for current students (students who enrolled Spring 2022 or prior) will still be based on the earlier tuition and scholarship model. This means that whether domestic or international, no current students will see an increase in their bills due to this change.
For example, if you enrolled at King’s with the original $37,000 pricing and had a Presidential Scholarship of $17,000 and no need-based aid, your tuition would remain at $20,000 per year. If you are a Founders Scholar (recipient of a full-tuition scholarship), you would continue to only pay student fees, indirect expenses, and any applicable housing charges if you live on campus.
In a small number of instances, current students’ tuition costs will be lowered, and those students will be contacted by Student Financial Services representatives by February 15, 2022. The costs of on-campus housing and student fees remain unchanged for all students.
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I’m planning on attending King’s in Fall 2022 or following. What will my bill look like?
New domestic students’ tuition (enrolling Fall 2022 and following) is $21,000 per year, with the opportunity to apply for merit-based aid between $2,000 and $5,000 and need-based aid via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
New international students’ tuition (enrolling Fall 2022 and following) is $37,000 per year. They may apply for some merit-based scholarships such as the MPJI Scholarship, Cano Blanco Scholarship, or Founders Scholarship. They can also apply for any external scholarships they wish (see suggestions here). Since the FAFSA is only for U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, international students are not eligible to apply for need-based aid via the FAFSA.
The best way for prospective students to see a full financial picture is to complete the following:
- Submit your application and all your application documents so you can receive an Admissions decision
- Fill out the FAFSA (school code: 040953) or communicate to your Admissions counselor that you do not intend to submit a FAFSA
Following these steps allows The King’s College to package your full financial aid award letter so you can see your net costs of attendance.
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How are domestic and international students defined by The King’s College? For example, can U.S. citizens living abroad access the domestic student pricing?
Students are considered domestic if they are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens (i.e. a legal permanent resident “green card” holder). We follow the same designations of eligible non-citizens that the U.S. Department of Education uses to define who can apply for federal student aid.
A good rule of thumb is that if you use a U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or U.S. Permanent Resident Card as your means of identification, you are regarded as a domestic student. If not, you are most likely regarded as an international student. Currently living in the United States is not a sufficient criterion to qualify you for domestic student pricing.
Similarly, United States citizens living abroad are regarded as domestic students. This includes, for example, a dependent born to two United States missionaries abroad: that student is entitled to be a U.S. citizen and is therefore eligible for domestic student pricing. Students with dual citizenship (United States and some other country) can choose to apply in a manner that is most advantageous to them.
For more:
- See eligibility definitions from the U.S. Department of Education
- See this resource from the U.S. Embassy in Canada for an example of U.S. citizenship being transmitted to a dependent born abroad
Why does the tuition adjustment only apply to domestic students and not international students? Are there any ways international students can lower their costs to attend The King’s College?
The tuition cost for international students is $37,000 to allow The King’s College to appropriately resource the staff and programs that support international students.
To help finance their education at King’s, international students can consider applying for merit-based scholarships such as the MPJI Scholarship, Cano Blanco Scholarship, Founders Scholarship, or for any external scholarships they wish (see suggestions here). Many international students in our community also apply for on-campus jobs to provide an income that offsets expenses.
If you’re able to offer students this education at $21,000 per year, why was the price for domestic students previously set at $37,000?
Providing a King’s education that’s consistent with our mission is a costly proposition. The $37,000 annual tuition we advertised up to this point reflects the expense to maintain our Christian presence in the heart of New York City with renowned professors who excel in delivering a King’s education and a dedicated staff who selflessly invest in the lives of students.
However, a tuition price of $37,000 has not been and is not currently realistic for the majority of families seeking a traditional Christian liberal arts education. As a result, we have long worked with families in the Admissions process to offer significant merit- and need-based financial aid. We are able to make an education from The King’s College financially feasible for students from varied economic backgrounds thanks to the generous support of donors and charitable foundations who believe in our mission.
Will there be a decrease in services or program offerings due to this change?
No. The purpose of this change is to provide a more realistic picture up front of what King’s students will ultimately pay in order to eliminate an unnecessary barrier for families considering The King’s College. Net tuition per student will remain relatively similar, allowing us to support the same level of education you already expect from The King’s College. As King’s becomes open to more families because of this updated messaging, the overall tuition revenue from a larger student body will only enhance our ability to serve and educate students.
Why did The King’s College decide to make this tuition adjustment?
Our new pricing structure provides a more realistic picture up front of what King’s students will ultimately pay. This change in how we communicate about the cost of attendance aims to eliminate an unnecessary barrier for families considering The King’s College.
As families continue into a new era of economic uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Gibson and the Board of Trustees are proud to reaffirm the mission of The King’s College by repositioning the College and increasing our accessibility to families.
Will there be tax implications of this change for parents or students filing taxes?
Students and parents filing taxes can continue to report tuition payments on their tax filings as before with no change. The relevant tax form, Form 1098-T, will continue to be issued annually to students who paid qualified tuition and fees during the tax year from January 1 to December 31. Since this form reflects actual tuition payments (net tuition), and not the gross tuition pricing, the change in the published tuition price will have no effect on the tax process.
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How does this change affect student loans?
The bills for current students (students who enrolled Spring 2022 or prior) will still be based on the earlier tuition and scholarship model. This means that current students with student loans will continue to see those items reflected as usual on their statements.
As before, the best way for prospective students to see a full financial picture is to fill out the FAFSA (school code: 040953) and submit all your application documents so you can receive an Admissions decision and your full financial aid package from The King’s College.
I have a question that isn’t answered here. Who can I contact?
Prospective and incoming students with questions should contact their Admissions Counselor. Current students can contact Student Financial Services at financialservices@tkc.edu.