Youngstown State University is reaching across the state line, slashing out of state tuition costs for students in eight Pennsylvania counties.
Right now, these students pay a $2,692 surcharge on top of the tuition charged to Ohio residents, for a total of $9,413 per academic year. With the Western Pennsylvania Advantage, that surcharge drops to $200, saving students and their families nearly $2,500 a year. "In essence we're providing a $2,500 scholarship to each student that attends Youngstown State University," says YSU President Dr. David Sweet.
"And it's also our current students, too, that we're looking out after, so it's not just getting new students. It's taking care of what we currently have," adds Todd Pilipovich, YSU Assistant Director of Admissions.
YSU Freshman Mackenzie Greenert, who graduated from Butler Senior High School last year, is studying to be a dental hygienist and plans on putting that extra money to good use. "Any money you can save nowadays is good money. I can use it for books, and other costs on the University," says Greenert.
School leaders say the initiative is a way both Ohio and Pennsylvania can increase college going rates among high school graduates and adults.
"Both Governor Strickland and Governor Rendell have spoken to the importance of higher education in the economic revitalization of the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys and these regions in general," says Sweet.
Now they're getting the word out to high school guidance counselors, prospective students and families. "I think it's one of the best kept secrets in Ohio and into PA, and I think once students from Pennsylvania see this cost cut, it's going to draw them to Ohio; to Youngstown State," says Greenert.
The Western Pennsylvania Advantage starts in August for Fall Semester 2009.
