Local College Tuition Assistance Offers Hope

By Ameera Gaal

Paying for college is undeniably expensive, according to U.S. News data, college tuition prices are a lot higher today compared with two decades ago.

In just the 2020-2021 school year to the current 2021-2022 academic year, tuition rates at both private and public National Universities have increased by at least 2%.

With tuition on the rise, the stress of having to pay to get an education to secure a better-paying job has become a reality.

Here are some Colleges in our state that take steps to help lessen the stress and anxiety that come with tuition.

Concordia College provides student and faculty unity through a community-focused campus near the Red River.

Starting in the Fall of 2021, all students in Concordia College will benefit from a new lower tuition cost: reduced by more than $15,000 from 2020-21– a decrease of 35%.

Concordia College’s campanile or bell tower is a local landmark.

They offer scholarships like Excellence Scholarships which are automatic academic scholarships ranging in value from $5,000 to $12,000 annually which can add up to $20,000 to $48,000 over four years.

NDSU’s campus is sprawling yet ingrained in North Fargo’s neighborhood.

North Dakota State University (NDSU) Also offers guaranteed Scholarships calculated by cumulated high school GPA and ACT/ Sat scores.

NDSU offers nearly $3.5 million in scholarships to new first-year students. Nearly half of this year’s first-year students received an award.

MSUM’s Weld Hall is an iconic building with its vine-covered, brick exterior.

Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) offers automatic, competitive, and need-based scholarships to freshmen based on high school GPA and ACT, are awarded at the time of admission.

MSUM Foundation offers scholarships gifted by alumni, businesses, friends, and foundations to incoming, current, and graduate students.
MSUM also offers financial aid to help pay for educational expenses. Once your financial need is calculated, they will attempt to meet your needs with funds from available financial aid programs.

MSUM doesn’t just offer financial aid for tuition, they also offer financial aid opportunities for studying abroad with over 300 scholarships solely for studying abroad.

MSUM offers students who don’t feel so great about their grades a different route to be admitted!

Chosen for over 20 years in a row as one of the top public regional colleges in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report, Valley City State University (VCSU) offers the top scholarship program among all public universities in North Dakota.

Just this year 97% of Valley City State University students received grant aid in 2018/2019.

VCSU provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through grants, loans, scholarships, employment, and other student aid programs.
Transitioning from high school to college can be overwhelming.

You’re embarking on your own, starting a new chapter in your life. For those stressing this new life chapter and today’s uncertainties, we hope that we have made things a little easier.

From researching academic support to developing strong faith within yourself, the following Universities can help incoming freshmen get organized and build a foundation for college success.