Dive Brief:
- Students at the University of Baltimore have a new incentive to finish their degrees in four years: free tuition.
- The “Finish4Free” deal offers free tuition to students in their final semester if they achieve the goal, now worth about $3,300 for in-state students and $9,000 for out-of-state undergrads.
- The deal will be offered to freshmen starting school this fall.
Dive Insight:
Free is good, and the deal’s text-friendly name makes it all the more attractive with young folks. The goal is to give a boost to the university’s declining four-year graduation rates, currently at 8%, second-worst for the Maryland state university system. In 2007, the rate was 18%. Students who achieve the four-year goal will also benefit from lower student loan debt burdens, and officials also hope the deal will persuade more students to apply to the school.
