Seton Hall Discounts Tuition by Two-Thirds

Starting next year, Seton Hall University is offering a $21,000 discount off published tuition rates to students in the top 10 percent of their high school classes, have standardized test scores over 27 on the ACT or 1200 on the critical reading and math sections of the SAT, and who apply by December 15. With the discount, tuition at the private Catholic institution in South Orange, New Jersey, will total $10,104.

For Virginia students, the markdown makes attending Seton Hall less expensive than attending the College of William and Mary or the University of Virginia where in-state tuitions (not including some additional student fees) are now pegged at $13,132 and $11,794, respectively.

“This initiative reflects Seton Hall’s commitment to serving our community and putting a high quality, personalized education within reach of more students and their families,” said Dr. Gabriel Esteban, president of Seton Hall University. “In this way, we make a first-class, private Catholic college experience as affordable and accessible to students as a public university.”

In addition to rewarding high-achieving students, university officials contend the program “assures parents that their son or daughter will receive a quality private education from a prestigious university in a smaller, more nurturing environment.”

With the cost of a college education increasing at rates most families find difficult to digest, the Seton Hall discount could provide welcome relief. And it will be interesting to see if other postsecondary institutions look for novel ways to address parental complaints in the ailing economy.

So far, only The University of the South at Sewanee, a liberal arts college in Tennessee, has made tuition adjustments by reducing its total annual bill for students by 10 percent.

Founded in 1859, Seton Hall has over 5,000 undergraduate students, with 82 percent of them living on its suburban campus 14 miles west of Manhattan. It has almost as many students in graduate programs including law, business, and health sciences.

To be eligible for the lower tuition, students must apply by the nonbinding December 15 “early action” deadline. Note that students who file the FAFSA may also be eligible to receive additional need-based financial aid.

The program is open to students from all states, and no special application is required. Any student who applies to Seton Hall and meets the academic criteria will automatically receive the lower tuition rate.

For more information or to learn more about other programs and opportunities, visit the Seton Hall website.