St. Joseph's College of Maine, the state's only Catholic college, announced earlier this month that it would no longer charge tuition fees to Maine residents who come from families making below $100,000.
"The Monk's Lantern Initiative," which was formally announced on September 17, will provide qualified Maine residents with no-cost tuition for the school. St. Joseph's College of Maine's athletics teams are nicknamed "Monks."
Students must be enrolled full-time at St. Joseph's College of Maine's physical campus in Standish, Maine, make academic progress, fill out a federal financial aid form each year, and remain below the income limits to be eligible for all four years of college.
“The Monk’s Lantern Initiative is a powerful expression of our core values,” said St. Joseph's College of Maine President Joe Cassidy in a press release announcing the program.
“For years, we’ve quietly been walking with students from the margins, helping them realize their potential and achieve their dreams. This program is our formal commitment to that legacy—ensuring that a values-based education is not a luxury, but a fundamental opportunity for every qualified student in Maine," he said.
"We are illuminating the path forward, one student at a time."
Students who qualify for the Monk's Lantern Initiative will still be eligible for federal and state loans and grants, said a release from the college. Any remaining balance on their tuition that is not covered by these grants will remain unpaid, Cassidy told local media network WMTW.
“In the event that there’s some money left over, we’ll just sort of [be] accepting that as a loss, if you will, so that the students can have this opportunity," he said.
The Monk's Lantern Initiative was partly inspired by Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, said the release from the school. The Sisters of Mercy founded St. Joseph's College of Maine in 1912.
Students must have a high school grade point average of at least 3.4 to be eligible for the Monk's Lantern Initiative and have resided in Maine for at least a year before applying, said an information sheet. They will still be charged for housing, meals, books, and other supplies, but can use scholarships or other aid to defray these costs.
Even before the new initiative was announced, St. Joseph's College of Maine awarded almost $20 million in merit scholarships and other award packages to its student body last school year, said the school.
"As a result, 100% of SJC students receive a scholarship or aid package, underscoring the college's commitment to investing in its students' futures," said the school.
