Announcing the JWU Pledge

Photo courtesy of Johnson and Wales University

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In January, Johnson & Wales University announced the JWU Pledge, an initiative that strives to make a high-quality, hands-on education more accessible. Beginning in Fall 2025, the JWU Pledge could cover up to 100% of eligible undergraduate students’ tuition, building upon already-existing efforts to make a college education more affordable. This program includes grants, scholarships and aid from federal, state and institutional sources and will cover between 60% and 100% of tuition for eligible new and transfer students at both the Providence Campus and Charlotte Campus.

Johnson & Wales University Chancellor Mim L. Runey, LP.D., explains why JWU is paving a path for more students to attain an undergraduate education regardless of financial circumstances.

“At JWU, we are committed to creating access to the lifelong benefits of a higher education. With our new initiative, the JWU Pledge, we are formalizing our longstanding commitment to making college even more affordable and accessible to regional students, especially those with the greatest need. Thanks to the support of donors and alumni, we are able to offer the JWU Pledge as an important new addition to our financial aid packages designed to help our students reach their educational and professional goals successfully.”

Photo courtesy of Johnson and Wales University

Vice President of Undergraduate Enrollment Management Meredith Twombly answers questions and provides more details about the JWU Pledge.

1. What led to creating the JWU Pledge and why now?

“We know from engaging with families, that affordability is a top concern for most of them. Repeated surveys have shown that many students will not even apply to colleges they might otherwise be interested in because the sticker price looks too far out of reach for their family. One way to address that is through more transparent pricing. We hope that by giving families a more concrete idea of the aid they are eligible for at the outset — meaning before we ask them to fill out an application, they will be able to move through the admission process with greater knowledge and confidence.”

2. What is the first step to find out what type of aid a student is eligible for?

“Everyone who meets the eligibility criteria for the JWU Pledge must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) because that’s how we can verify their income and their Federal Pell Grant eligibility. Also, by virtue of those two things, students are eligible for up to $7,395 in Pell Grant aid per year, along with any state aid that their home state might offer — which is really the starting point of building their financial aid package. Beyond that, JWU will add merit scholarship and Johnson & Wales’ need-based grant aid.”

3. It has been shown that students who do not complete the FAFSA are less likely to attend a college. Can you provide some background on that?

“We know that to be true based on both national data and our experience at JWU. I hope one outcome of the JWU Pledge is to give more students the motivation to file the FAFSA.”

Photo courtesy of Johnson and Wales University

4. In October 2024 JWU announced another new initiative slated to begin in Fall 2025 at the Providence Campus — a Three-Year Career-Focused Degree program that will reduce tuition costs by eliminating one full year from the time needed to complete a bachelor’s degree. Are these two initiatives connected and are they part of a larger goal for JWU?

“They are definitely part of a broader JWU initiative to answer the call to make higher education, particularly a JWU experience, more accessible — and quite frankly more affordable. We take pride in being a university that responds to the needs of both students and industry. That is our mission — to help students access the education and careers that will set them up for success in the jobs of the future. And that recipe for life-long success includes less time to earn a degree and less dependence on student loans.”

5. In recent years, many community colleges across the country, including North Carolina and Rhode Island, began offering free tuition. Now a growing number of institutions are announcing plans to offer completely or substantially covered tuition for bachelor’s degrees. What is the driver for this trend, and do you see it as temporary or a long lasting, sustainable change across the higher education landscape?

“I think we are seeing the beginning of a sustained shift toward greater pricing transparency and affordability — which I’m very excited about. Tuition discounting has been increasing at most colleges for several years, but higher ed has failed to make that clear to families. Instead, the “real” pricing of higher ed has long been unnecessarily opaque and confusing.”

Photo courtesy of Johnson and Wales University

With the addition of JWU’s three-year degree program and the JWU Pledge, both starting in Fall 2025, Johnson & Wales is more dedicated than ever to making a college degree a reality for any
student who desires one.

JWU Pledge Eligibility Requirements

 Family Income

• Income up to $80,000: 100% of tuition is covered.
• Income between $80,001 and $200,000: 60% minimum of tuition is covered.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Must complete and file a FAFSA.
• Must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.2.
• Must be eligible for a Pell Grant (for those seeking 100% tuition coverage).
• Must live on campus.
• Must be a resident of Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina or Rhode Island.
• Students attending the College of Professional Studies or graduate/post-baccalaureate/second bachelor’s degree programs are not eligible.