financial aid facts

• Arizona is experiencing a financial aid crisis due to increases in university attendance, student financial need and overall student indebtedness compounded by decreases in state funding for the universities.
• Tuition and fees cover only part of the cost of an ASU education. In-state tuition is $9,208, while the total cost of attendance (including tuition, room, board, books, fees, etc.) for an undergraduate Arizona resident is $25,000–$27,000 per year.
• The number of ASU undergraduate students eligible for federal Pell grants, an indication of student need, has increased dramatically — 145% since 2003. This means more students from families with limited financial resources are pursuing degrees at ASU.
• Many people believe federal and state funding provide most financial aid to students. In fact, ASU funded $188 million in institutional awards for need- and merit-based scholarships in 2010–11 — more than federal and state scholarships and grants combined.
• Among ASU's undergraduates, 62% have demonstrated financial need. Only 5,000 of those have had their need fully met. The remaining students had an average of 56% of their need met.
• Despite one of the lowest tuition rates among our peers, affording ASU is an issue for many of our students when 47% of Arizona's children live in low-income homes and about 25% are in households with incomes of less than $25,000.
• Almost half of all financial aid awards come from student loans. The amount of loans has increased 79% over the last five years. The average ASU student debt at graduation is $20,000.