FINDLAY, Ohio & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This month, The University of Findlay, in partnership with Cegment, Inc., launched a new online Personal Affordability Calculator featuring Total Degree Cost insights. Helping students and families understand that higher education is an investment stands as a key component in Findlay’s plan to evolve its recruitment and retention philosophy. Revealing the total cost of a degree early, before enrolling, allows families to better prepare for the financial commitment.
Improving Cost Transparency
The new Findlay Total Degree Cost Calculator (TDCC) guides students through the process of creating a personalized plan for affording a UF degree. The engaging utility breaks down the total net cost of a degree into yearly increments, including financial aid eligibility, loan debt and estimated post-graduation monthly loan repayments. All of this functionality is wrapped in a vibrant, informative and engaging user experience that demonstrates the unique value and viability of an education at The University Findlay.
From the point of entry to the TDCC, each student is encouraged to continue by Findlay’s bold statement, “We recruit graduates,” which sets the tone for future success. After a short question-and-answer survey, the student sees imagery specific to his or her chosen academic area of interest and information on the value of a Findlay education. A personal financial plan is then rendered in an approachable and easy-to-understand format. The student has the option to recalculate the estimate for other academic programs being considered, as well as to run multiple funding scenarios in an Interactive Affordability Calculator.
“Partnering with Cegment has allowed us to enhance the user experience and function of our online cost and aid estimation calculator,” said Rebecca Butler, The University of Findlay’s vice president for enrollment management. “Their expertise and sophisticated technology platform helped us create a utility that both educates students and families and demonstrates the value that a Findlay education offers. We are excited to bring this one-of-a-kind tool to our students and their families.”
Financial Aid Award Clarity
In the next phase of the program, an enhanced award letter, will be delivered to students this spring. This award letter will provide a personalized and fundamentally better way for families to understand the cost of their education, how to responsibly fund those costs and the next steps required to join the Findlay student community.
“Historically, award letters have been a bland, transactional event with a data-heavy document that is difficult to understand,” Butler said. “Our aim with a more personalized and straightforward award letter is to make this a celebrated and clarifying event in the students’ pursuit of their college goals.”
Financial Preparedness Education
Ongoing education after students enroll is critical to helping their transition from college to career. Starting this fall, Findlay and Cegment will partner to provide a forward-thinking Student Financial Success Guide (SFSG) to sophomore and senior UF students.
The SFSG is personalized for each student, promotes financial literacy and helps students prepare for managing loan repayments after graduation in the context of earning potential. Budgeting advice and support resources offered by UF are provided to encourage students to begin a financial plan before graduation.
“Through these ongoing efforts, we not only hope to ensure that our students receive a top-notch education, but also provide the financial preparedness that will lead them to successful careers and the true realization of the return on their education investment,” said Butler. “We are planting the seeds for financial success that we intend to nurture throughout the students’ time at Findlay.”
According to Brad Baker, CEO of Cegment, “The Findlay Student Engagement Solution is the result of a true partnership. We have been able to leverage our new technology platform and dynamic document expertise to create a comprehensive student financial preparedness program that is unmatched in the industry.”
About The University of Findlay
The University of Findlay is a flexible, forward-looking institution that is constantly seeking ways to better serve students and the community. Its mission is to help individuals find the path to a meaningful life and productive career. Established in 1882, the University was founded on the principles of personal faith, civic-mindedness and scholarly achievement. It is committed to providing the personal attention essential to the development of students as whole persons – knowledgeable, creative, ethical and compassionate leaders in a global environment. The University of Findlay offers more than 60 majors in business, education, health, liberal arts, pharmacy and sciences. www.findlay.edu
About Cegment
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Cegment, Inc. is an innovative technology and marketing services company that enables colleges and universities to communicate personalized affordability and unique value to individual students. Through multiple contact mediums, Cegment’s personalized cost and value communication enables colleges to engage with “an audience of one” by addressing an individual’s specific concerns and interests. The company’s services include the nation’s most sophisticated net price, student aid and total-cost-of-degree estimation technology; enhanced financial aid award letters; personal enrollment planners; custom marketing and communications programs; financial literacy education; financial aid support programs; and insightful data analytics. Cegment helps colleges provide cost transparency and increase engagement with prospective students to achieve enrollment goals. www.cegment.com • Twitter: @Cegment • Facebook: /Cegment
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