Rowan to freeze tuition and fees for 2020-21

Dear University Community:

At Rowan, we pride ourselves on being vigilant and frugal about tuition and fee increases because of the barrier that college costs can present students. For the past seven years we have held increases to the predicted rate of inflation or below, and planned on doing so again for the coming academic year.

Yesterday, the executive committee of the Board acted upon our leadership team’s recommendation to freeze tuition and fees at the 2019-2020 rate for the upcoming academic year. 

Although the University faces a loss of $33 million in revenue this year because of the fallout related to COVID-19, we will not make up any portion of the difference by further burdening our students. It will be very difficult to adjust the institutional budget to cope with the loss, but no different than the struggle many of our students and their families face now and for the foreseeable future.  

Student Aid On the Way
A week ago today, the University received $7.25 million in federal student aid as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. It will be distributed, according to federal guidelines, to matriculated students as emergency financial aid grants to those who have suffered significant disruption to their education as a result of COVID-19. We will provide more details about how to apply for the funds next week. 

I hope this news—of both the tuition and fee freeze and the federal aid—brings a degree of relief to those who are struggling to make ends meet. 

Additional measures to help bridge the gap
Rowan has always been a model of public service  and stewardship. From the beginning of this global crisis, solidarity has been key. “We are in this together” provides encouragement, but it is also a commitment to mutual sacrifice and sharing the hard work of recovery. 

In mid-April I announced that the University would take immediate measures to reduce expenses and delay expansion. We have put on hold some planned construction and hiring, among other courses of action. 

We will continue to find ways to cut expenses and find alternatives that will increase revenue so we may continue to deliver the high-quality education our students deserve. 

We will emerge from this crisis stronger and resume growth that drives the regional economy. Until then, we will demonstrate our commitment to serve New Jersey through every means possible—always focused on the future, always focused on our students.

Yours truly,

Ali A. Houshmand, Ph.D.
President