ACS Schools Expand Commitment to Affordability

The Agnes Scott $100k Promise awards all new undergraduate students a minimum renewable merit-based scholarship of $25,000 per year, totaling at least $100,000 over four years. Additional aid is available for applicants with strong academic performance.

Berea College exclusively admits students with limited financial resources and invests deeply in their potential. Beginning in Fall 2027, every enrolled student will receive a fully funded degree, guaranteeing 100% of tuition, housing, food, and fees without loans—for all four years. This bold commitment, called the Financial Freedom Pledge, builds on Berea’s legacy as the nation’s oldest continuously tuition-free college and ensures that financial barriers do not stand between talented students and a world-class liberal arts education.

Beyond these core costs, Berea invests in the full student experience through supplies, a free laptop, funded internships and study-away opportunities, professional clothing support, conference funding, health and wellness resources, and more.

Every Berea student also participates in the College’s nationally recognized Work College Program, gaining meaningful, hands-on experience that complements their education and prepares them for lives of purpose, leadership, and service.

Launched in 2021, the Centenary Affordability Pledge provides full tuition coverage for all new, incoming Louisiana students who are Pell Grant and Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS, LA’s state merit aid program) eligible, with the College covering any tuition costs that remain after those two awards are applied. By closing this gap, CAP gives eligible students up to four years of full tuition. The pledge reflects Centenary’s commitment to making a quality liberal arts education accessible and affordable, particularly for in-state students with the greatest financial need. 

Through the Centre Promise, Centre commits to meeting 100% of calculated financial need for all incoming students, a policy that began with the class entering in fall 2025.

In the summer of 2026, Davidson announced a simplified financial aid model that sets clear thresholds for the institution’s generous financial aid. Starting with students enrolling in the fall of 2027, new students whose total family income is below $175,000 will attend tuition-free. New students whose total family income is $85,000 or less will receive a full scholarship for tuition, fees, housing and meals. 

Davidson admits domestic students without regard to their ability to pay, meets 100 percent of calculated need, and provides financial aid packages with no loans.

Launched for students entering in fall 2026, the Millsaps Advantage Scholarship provides full tuition and fees to qualifying high-achieving, Pell-eligible Mississippi students. The program is designed to remove financial barriers for some of the state’s most promising students while encouraging them to pursue their education and future careers in Mississippi.

Millsaps has also partnered with Jackson Public Schools to create a more affordable pathway to college for local students. Eligible JPS graduates who meet Millsaps’ admission requirements receive a renewable scholarship covering at least 50% of tuition for up to four years. Dependents of full-time JPS faculty and staff are also eligible for the undergraduate tuition scholarship.

For high-achieving students, Millsaps awards 16 competitive Premier Scholarships each year covering the full cost of undergraduate tuition and fees for four years. Premier Scholars also participate in an honors-level academic experience designed to support their academic, personal and professional development.

These programs build on Millsaps’ broader commitment to affordability. All admitted undergraduate students are automatically considered for merit scholarships, with awards ranging from $18,000 to $34,000 annually, and 95% of Millsaps students receive some form of financial aid.

Morehouse participates in the Student Freedom Initiative, an innovative nonprofit program that provides income-contingent financing alternatives to traditional loans for students attending HBCUs, MSIs, and TCUs. Morehouse was among SFI’s founding partner institutions when the program launched in 2021.

The Barbara Lawrence Alfond Central Florida Award meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need with tuition grants (no loans) for qualifying graduates of Orange County public high schools whose family adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less.

At the University of Richmond, a commitment to access and affordability includes both need- and merit-based support. Richmond practices need-blind admission—admitting domestic students without considering their ability to pay—and meets the full demonstrated financial need of all traditional undergraduate students through the Richmond in Reach program. Richmond’s Promise to Virginia covers tuition, housing, and food for eligible Virginia students from families earning $75,000 or less. 

The University also offers significant merit and athletic aid, which, combined with need-based aid, means nearly 2/3rds of Richmond’s approximately 3,000 undergraduate students receive about $100 million in grant and scholarship assistance. 

Once enrolled, every traditional undergraduate can receive up to $5,500 through the Richmond Guarantee to pursue a summer internship or research experience—helping ensure students can fully participate in the opportunities that distinguish a Richmond education.

Under the W&L Promise, students from families with typical assets earning less than $150,000 per year receive a grant equal to or greater than full tuition. Students from families earning under $75,000 annually also receive grant support covering room and board. Beginning in the fall of 2027, the income threshold for the Promise will increase to $200,000 for all students. 

W&L admits domestic students without regard to their ability to pay, meets 100 percent of calculated need, and provides financial aid packages with no loans.