Three colleges that benefit siblings, families


Some colleges offer discounts for siblings that attend the same college concurrently.

As college costs continue to skyrocket, American families are finding it increasingly challenging to pay for college for a single child, much less multiple college-age children simultaneously.

According to a recent College Board study, the median cost for a year at a public four-year higher education institution is $8,672; a year at a private nonprofit four-year institution is $30,200.

But parents of multiple college-age children soon might find a bonus in having two children enrolled in higher education: A growing number of schools are beginning to offer discounts for siblings who are enrolled in the same schools.

Here are three such colleges that offer sibling discounts and grants to help alleviate college costs for siblings that attend the same university.

(Next page: Schools offering sibling discounts)1. Western New England University (Springfield, Mass.)

Profile: Private institution with approximately 2,600 undergraduates. Its 2012-13 tuition is $31,912.

Discount history: Western New England University first began offering a Sibling Discount in the 1992-93 academic year. At the time, the discount was $500 per family with more than one student enrolled, but has since been upgraded to a $1,000 discount per student ($2,000 for two students enrolled, and $3,000 for three students enrolled).

The discount’s impact: “We offer the discount as an added incentive for families who are already part of the Western New England family to consider enrolling a sibling,” said David Stawasz, assistant vice president for marketing communications. “The university understands that paying for college is a major expense, and this is one small way we hope to support these students and their families.”

In the current academic year, 53 students from 26 families are taking advantage of the discount. The discount is considered a form of financial aid and is credited to each student’s tuition bill.

“It is gratifying that many families, once exposed to the Western New England experience, choose to enroll a second or even third child at the University,” said Stawasz. “Considering our fill-time undergraduate population of just over 2,500 students, having 53 siblings enrolled is seen as evidence that the university is on the right track when it comes to this program and providing a worthwhile educational experience.”

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2. Otterbein University (Westerville, Ohio)

Profile:  Private institution with approximately 2,500 undergraduates. Its 2012-13 tuition is $30,658.

Grant history: Otterbein University has been offering its Sibling Grant for more than 20 years. Currently, the annual Sibling Grant is $1,000 per sibling and is available to dependent undergraduates who are concurrently enrolled full-time at the college.

The discount’s impact: “The discount is not huge, but it does make a difference for families over time,” said Jefferson Blackburn-Smith, vice president of enrollment. “I think there is a very strong family relationship with the university. We have a significant number of legacy students that come here every year because their parents or grandparents attended the university. In the current academic year, 109 students are on the grant.

“It’s more about family than the siblings,” said Blackburn-Smith. “A lot of times it’s, ‘My older sibling went and I came and liked it and I decided to go there, too.’ That whole feeling that you’re a part of a family really does bring in siblings. It’s a really near community [at Otterbein], and people know and care about each other and are engaged.”

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3. George Washington University (Washington, D.C.)

Profile: Private institution with approximately 10,400 undergraduates. Its 2012-13 tuition is $43,747.

Grant history: The GW Family Grant was established in 1988. The grant amounts to one-half tuition for the second student, and can be awarded for the full academic year or for the fall or spring semester only. In order to qualify, siblings must be enrolled full-time in a first time, four year bachelor’s degree program and be charged at GW’s full-time rate.

The grant’s impact: “The GW Family Grant was designed to financially assist families sending two or more full-time undergraduate children to the George Washington University simultaneously,” said Dan Small, associate vice president for Financial Assistance. “In addition, the university also offers fixed tuition and guaranteed financial aid, which locks in an incoming student’s cost of tuition for a five year period and ensures that need and merit-based institutional grants remain at least at the levels awarded at the time of a student’s initial enrollment.”

In the current academic year, 127 families are recipients of the GW family grant.

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Follow Assistant Editor Sarah Langmead on Twitter at @eCN_Sarah.

 

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