Seniors at NYC college surprised with free tuition on first day of classes

NEW YORK ( WPIX ) – Students at The Cooper Union, a private college in Lower Manhattan, will not be paying any tuition for their senior year of classes, the school said Tuesday.

The announcement came as a complete surprise to students enrolled at the New York City college. Outgoing President Laura Sparks delivered the news during a convocation ceremony, according to the school.

The scholarships were made possible by a group of alumni who donated approximately $6 million combined — after having already donated millions in previous years.

It’s not just the current seniors who benefit, either. For the next four years, all graduating seniors will have their tuition completely covered by scholarships. (Current seniors will first receive funds from Cooper Union for their fall tuition payments, but won’t be required to pay spring tuition. Scholarships will cover the senior year tuition of current freshmen, sophomores and juniors enrolled at the school.)

Prior to 2014, Cooper Union — known officially as The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art — was tuition-free for all students. But in 2014, the school elected to have students pay partial tuition “for the first time in its history to help close a structural financial deficit,” according to a news release posted to the school’s website.

In 2018, the school announced its 10-year plan to drop students’ tuition once again.

“The response to our plan and the dedication of Cooper Union alumni and New York City funders have been tremendous,” Sparks said, per the news release. “Thanks to the generosity of three extraordinary alumni donors, we are removing a major financial burden for our graduating classes and reaffirming the ideals that have been foundational to this institution since Peter Cooper opened its doors in 1859.”

As it stands, over half the student body at Cooper Union is already on a full scholarship and undergraduates pay, on average, less than 15% of the school’s full tuition, according to the school.

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