In an attempt to increase accessibility to higher education, Fort Lewis College has expanded its tuition promise to cover students whose family income is less than $70,000 per year.

Previously, the benefit was available for families earning less than $65,000.

FLC President Tom Stritikus said in a December news release that the program’s expansion is possible because of an anonymous gift to the President’s Impact Fund. The President’s Impact Fund was established to raise donations to support the greatest needs and opportunities of FLC at the discretion of the president.

“FLC wants to make sure that every student in Colorado, regardless of their family’s income, has the opportunity to attend college,” Stritikus said. “Unrestricted gifts like this allow us to leverage other forms of support to help students maximize their financial aid to ensure they graduate with as little debt as possible.”

The college did not disclose the value amount, but FLC spokeswoman Nardy Bickel said the amount was substantial enough that the administration was able to commit to increasing the Tuition Promise in perpetuity.

The award is a combination of federal, state and institutional grants, plus institutional scholarships. If those don’t cover the full cost of tuition, FLC funds are awarded to meet the full share of the student’s in-state tuition.

This could help families during a time where the cost of living in Colorado has increased.

According to an article published by Uncover Colorado, the state’s overall cost of living was 12% higher than the national average in 2022.

The report also showed that a person living in Colorado can expect to pay just over $2,000 a month on average to live. However, a family of four can expect to spend as much as $4,700 per month to live in the state.

In November 2023, The Colorado Sun reported that the average price of a home in Colorado is now above $535,000. According to FLC’s website, in-state tuition costs $7,560 per year.

However, the award exclusively covers tuition. Other fees such as student fees, books and room and board are not included in the FLC Tuition Promise. The cost of student fees total out to about $2,110 per year, while the cost of on-campus room and board is about $13,390.

In order to qualify, students must be seeking their first bachelor’s degree, be enrolled in college full-time, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, apply for the College Opportunity Fund and have a complete financial aid filed by the census date for full consideration. Advancing Students for a Stronger Tomorrow students must complete the Colorado Application for state financial aid.

Students must meet academic performance standards in order to renew the award. The award exclusively covers tuition and other fees such as student fees, books and room and board.

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 cumulative in college-level coursework, Bickel said.

tbrown@durangoherald.com