On the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints website (Link), we read of the importance of education from our church leaders – Prophets and apostles teach that education is an eternal principle, following the Savior’s counsel that “the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth” (D&C 93:36) and that “whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection” (D&C 130:18).
Education can take many forms – trade school, certifications, self-study, or higher education. For this post, we are going to take a look at affordable college options for church members.
One of the key limiting factors in the decision to attend college is affordability. In fact, student loan debt has been a growing challenge in society today, with the total debt around $1.6 trillion and impacting 44.7 million borrowers (source: EducationData.org). The affordability challenge is particularly relevant for low and moderate-income families, already trying to make ends meet in a difficult economic environment. Fortunately, several options are available to help families navigate the affordability challenge.
Church Schools – Traditional Onsite Colleges
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints maintains four traditional institutions of higher learning: BYU-Provo; BYU-Idaho; BYU-Hawaii; and Ensign College (renamed in 2020, formerly LDS Business College). These schools offer a tremendous value to students and provide an opportunity for students that desire to pursue a degree at a church-owned school.
While these schools provide affordable college opportunities, this affordability has also caused popularity to increase, leading to the need for more selective admittance standards. If you apply and don’t get in to your desired church school, don’t be discouraged. There are so many factors that go in to the admittance decisions outside of our control. Whether you are accepted or not, you are still a beloved daughter or son of Heavenly Father. If you are interested in attending a church school, visit the websites or talk to your ward leaders.
Your mind is precious! It is sacred. Therefore, the education of one’s mind is also sacred. Indeed, education is a religious responsibility. Of course, our opportunities and abilities will vary a great deal. But, in the pursuit of one’s education, individual desire is more important than is the institution you choose; personal drive is more significant than is the faculty.
President Russell M. Nelson
Church Schools – Online Options for student and adult learners
The church is well aware that the number of interested students exceed enrollment caps. In fact, this problem was discussed at a small meeting in November 2008. The result of this meeting was the initial concept of the Pathway program.
BYU Pathway Worldwide has grown dramatically since its inception. In 2009, the program began with 50 students and, as of 2019, now has approximately 45,000 students in 145 countries. Leaders quickly realized that the need extended beyond the young student to include many adult learners who desired to gain the benefits of continuing education. Tuition is very affordable.
The program continues to build. In May 2019, the church announced that returned missionaries are now pre-approved to participate in PathwayConnect, an online program offered through BYU-Pathway Worldwide, which then leads to job-ready certificates and degrees. For more information, Read Brandon Vazquez’s Pathway Experience, go to BYU – Pathway Worldwide, or talk to your ward leaders.
Other Colleges and Universities – Options outside of the Church Educational System (CES)
There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States alone. For students that desire to pursue their education outside of CES, opportunities abound. However, the number of choices and the “Sticker Price” can be overwhelming.
To offset some of the costs, students may consider earning college credits in high school through Advanced Placement (AP) classes or attending Early College High Schools. High School graduates can also consider attending community college after high school or during college summer breaks to complete general education courses through a lower-cost model.
When considering 4-year college and universities, it is important to note that in the vast majority of cases, the “Sticker Price” does not represent the cost for your individual family. To obtain an estimate of your actual cost, most schools have very helpful net price calculators on their websites that take into consideration the student’s academic performance (merit-based aid) and the financial position of the family (need-based aid). You may also contact the school directly to discuss your individual circumstances.
To ultimately obtain the estimated need-based aid for all colleges, families must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) through the government. The FAFSA will provide a families Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for college that will factor in student and family income, assets, and the number of college students in the family. There are many free resources for families that need help with filling out the FAFSA.
Shopping for colleges is not easy and definitely lacks transparency. The difference between the one-year cost of attendance (tuition and fees, room and board, books, etc.) and the EFC is your demonstrated need. Some colleges meet 100 percent of demonstrated need while others do not. Some colleges rely more extensively on grants and scholarships, while others rely more heavily on loans or Federal work-study. As such, once all the need-based and merit-based aid is considered, a private college with a high sticker price may end up costing a family less than a state school with a much lower sticker price.
