Cazenovia College freezes tuition, room, and board costs for 2021-22

CAZENOVIA, N.Y. — Cazenovia College announced it is freezing the cost of tuition, room, and board and boosting the amount of merit-scholarship money available to incoming freshmen and transfer students for the 2021-22 academic year.

The college says it is responding to “the financial challenges the past year has presented to many families and individuals.”

The board of trustees at a recent meeting voted to freeze the costs of tuition, room and board at the current year’s levels, Cazenovia College President Ron Chesbrough said. In addition, Cazenovia is increasing merit-aid awards to a maximum of $31,000 annually for all freshmen starting in the fall of 2021, regardless of family income or state residency, he added.

“Some families and individuals are experiencing additional expenses or situations where a parent or guardian may be unemployed, working less, or have reduced wages. We know that these economic conditions are likely to affect household finances for years to come. The increased levels of merit aid, coupled with the cap on tuition and attendance costs for the 2021-2022 academic year, underscore the college’s commitment that our community-focused institution is truly accessible to all qualified students,” Chesbrough said in a news release.

Between the new level of merit aid possible and the freeze on tuition, room and board charges, Cazenovia College says the total cost of its education will be “reduced by as much as 60 percent, on average.” At the maximum amount, and combined with federal and state aid, the scholarship lowers the average cost of attendance to well under $20,000 per year, including tuition, room, board, and fees, the college said.

The amount of aid that Cazenovia awards annually ranges from $18,000 to $31,000 per year for first-year students, and $13,000 to $20,000 for transfer students. The maximum amount available is a boost of $6,000 per year over last year’s level, when a range of $15,000 to $25,000 was in place, the college said.