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Lawrence remains focused on accessibility, affordability

With increasing national concern over student debt and the value of a college education, accessibility and affordability to students across the socio-economic spectrum remain at the top of Lawrence University’s priorities.
 
A matching gift campaign aimed to boost scholarship aid — Full Speed to Full Need — launched in September 2014 by a $25 million anonymous gift hit its first milestone in November 2015, nearly four years ahead of expectations, by raising more than $26 million in additional funds. The success of the match challenge allowed Lawrence to establish an endowment of more than $51 million that will be used exclusively for endowed scholarships to help meet students’ demonstrated financial need.
 
Among Lawrence’s approximately 1,500 students, 98.8 percent receive financial aid, with need-based aid packages averaging $36,595. Of the 373 Lawrence students who are from Wisconsin, 45 percent (168) of them are recipients of the Wisconsin Grant. 
 
In conjunction with increasing student financial aid, Lawrence has been trimming operating expenses while still maintaining one of the lowest faculty-to-student ratios (1:9) in the country. The strategy of saving while investing has allowed Lawrence to moderate its cost of attendance at a rate of less than three percent in each of the past two years. 
 
Lawrence also was cited by The Princeton Review as one of its “Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck.” It’s the second year Lawrence has been included in this special edition that highlights the nation’s best colleges for students seeking an exceptional education with great career preparation at an affordable price.