UTICA, N.Y. — Utica University says it is taking steps to make higher education affordable to more people with the Thursday, Oct. 3 launch of Pioneer Passport, a program that offers a tuition-free option for qualified first-year students.
The goal of the program is to offer a no-cost tuition option for eligible first-year students, offsetting all out-of-pocket tuition costs and mandatory fees not covered by other scholarships and grant programs. Students must be New York state residents with an annual family income of $65,000 or less based on 2023 tax filings.
“By closing the tuition gap for a large number of future first-year students, Pioneer Passport fully supports our mission to make higher education an attractive option on everyone’s table,” Utica University President Todd Pfannestiel contended in a news release.
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For interested and qualified applicants, there is no separate application for Pioneer Passport. Students simply apply for admission as well as file their federal and state financial aid applications.
While similar to other need-based financial-aid programs, Pioneer Passport has no ceiling on the number of recipients, no post-graduation residency requirement, and no time limit on the award. If qualified students continue to meet all criteria, they can attend Utica University for the entire four years tuition free. The program is not available to transfer students at this time.
In 2016, Utica University reduced its tuition price by 42 percent. Currently, the estimated annual cost for a full-time undergraduate student, before financial aid, is $25,830 in tuition and $14,848 for room and board.
With satellite locations in New York and Florida, Utica University offers more than 40 majors to undergraduate and graduate students.
