In many states, the volatility in funding for public universities is forcing ongoing double-digit tuition increases and ever-larger class sizes, and making it nearly impossible for students to graduate on time. Here at Millsaps, our funding is stable because it comes from a combination of your tuition dollars, alumni and foundation philanthropic donations, and federal and state financial aid programs. As such, we are able to plan and budget long into the future, and our Compass Curriculum is by definition a pathway to graduation in four years.
Millsaps' four-year graduation rate is one and a half times that of the next highest university or college in the state, and much higher than other large public universities in the region. That’s why we can promise a strong return on your investment through our four-year graduation guarantee.
Our promise is simple: We guarantee graduation in four years if a student meets the basic course load and performance requirements, or Millsaps will waive tuition and fees on courses required to complete a bachelor’s degree.
When you think about your own family finances and how you'll pay for college, please consider this: while a public university may cost less per year, if it takes more than four years to get the classes needed to graduate, not only are you paying additional annual tuition, fees, room and board, but your student is losing out on the salary they would have earned if they had entered the job market on time! That additional year or two doesn't just cost more - it eliminates a year's worth of salary!
Here's a hypothetical example of how this plays out, using very round numbers, with a Millsaps student who graduates in 4 years with a starting salary of $50,000, versus a student who pays less to attend a large public university but needs a fifth year to graduate:
Annual
Net Cost |
# of Years to Graduate
|
Cost to Degree
|
Salary In Year 5
|
Total Investment
| |
State U
|
$15,000
|
5
|
$75,000*
|
$0
|
$75,000
|
Millsaps College
|
$30,000
|
4
|
$120,000
|
$50,000
|
$70,000
|
*Many institutional scholarships, state grants, and federal aid programs expire
after four years, so the annual cost for year 5 may increase significantly
... and that's just the first year of a Millsaps' graduate's professional career! So, when you think of college costs as an investment, and consider time-to-graduation, and starting salary, spending more on a high quality college education makes more financial sense than choosing the least expensive option. The purpose of investing is to get the greatest return, and Millsaps College is the best educational investment you can make.
Millsaps College. Graduation in four years, guaranteed.
