Molloy College freezes student tuition for the 2020-21 school year

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As part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic, Molloy College will freeze tuition for the 2020-21 academic year. This means that Molloy’s 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students will not see an increase in their tuition costs in the fall. Tuition typically rises year to year.

“Students and their families have been severely impacted by the virus, including financially,” John P. McEntee, chair of the college’s board of trustees, said in a Molloy news release on May 22. “The board recognizes that and is taking this unprecedented step to help make a Molloy education as affordable as possible.”

In addition to freezing tuition, Molloy has refunded about $1 million to students in meal plans, service fees and other expenses as a result of the closure of the Rockville Centre campus in March.

For Molloy student Jack Ryan, 21, of Bellmore, the freeze is “a weight of my shoulders,” he said. “I can allocate and save my money for things that I need, like food and textbooks.”

Ryan is a rising senior at Molloy and praised the college board of trustee’s decision to not raise tuition for the 2020-21 school year. “I’m eternally grateful for the decision the board of trustees made,” he said. “It reflects some of the college’s core values, one reflecting community. It says we’re all in this together and will find a common solution that will benefit everyone.”

While attending Molloy full time, Ryan normally juggles four part-time jobs to pay for college. He worked at a local restaurant and a catering hall, and held two jobs on campus as a student ambassador and an orientation leader.

However, when coronavirus hit, he was furloughed from every single one.

“Not being able to have some sort of financial income is certainly impacting me,” Ryan said. “Molloy has been very accommodating for those who have experienced negative impacts of the virus.”

Ryan said he knows many other students who worked one or more jobs, which they have lost due to the virus, and that the tuition freeze will help them, as well.

Linda Albanese, head of admissions, noted that in making the decision, college officials reflected on conversations they’ve had with parents and students in the past two months. “In many cases, jobs have been lost and the financial impact has been severe,” she said.

She added that a large number of students work to pay for college and have either lost those jobs or seen parents lose their jobs. While she acknowledged that freezing tuition rates would have an impact on Molloy’s 2020-21 budget, the college’s priority lies with its students.

“The biggest consideration was our students,” Albanese said. “That is always our focus and one of the reasons why people choose to come to Molloy. They know we have their best interests at heart.”