Answered by Vice President Michael Otterstatter
Do most MLC students graduate with debt?
Over the past five years, about 75 percent of our graduates have left with an average of $25,000 in loans.
Why is MLC tuition so high?
MLC’s tuition actually is dramatically lower than other similar four-year colleges. However, the net price students actually pay—tuition, room, board, and other expenses minus financial aid—is nearly the same. That’s because MLC doesn’t offer as much financial aid. MLC started the Congregational Partner Grant Program (CPGP) about four years ago to help meet this need.
How will my gift help students pay for college?
Your gift will help fund the CPGP matching fund. Think of this program like two buckets. The first is the bucket of dollars congregations send in on behalf of their sons and daughters. The other bucket is money others give to allow MLC to match those gifts. Gifts to EQUIPPING CHRISTIAN WITNESSES will fill the matching bucket for the next five to ten years as we work to make this a regular part of our budget.
Why is this pillar of the campaign so important?
All three pillars of the campaign really fit together. Under God’s blessing, we’re asking for more called workers to meet ministry needs and opportunities all over the world. If we’re planning on growth and praying for growth, we also need to have financial aid ready so these students can afford to attend and don’t leave with too much debt. Finally, we need to provide facilities and housing space that will be a home away from home for our students now and in the future.
Adapted from Forward in Christ, December 2019
forwardinchrist.net
This feature was originally published in the MLC InFocus, Spring 2020 issue.
