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Monmouth College unveils Scots Pledge full tuition program

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, IL (09/02/2026) — Imagine attending Monmouth College and receiving a personalized liberal arts education without having to pay a single dollar in tuition.

If that sounds impossible, it's not, thanks to the college's new Scots Pledge program, which will take effect with first-year and transfer students enrolling for the Fall 2027 semester.

"The Scots Pledge makes a Monmouth education even more affordable for qualifying Illinois students by covering the full cost of tuition through a combination of federal, state and Monmouth financial aid," said Monmouth President Patricia Draves. "It's one more way we're making a high-value Monmouth education accessible, giving students the opportunity to build meaningful connections, gain resume-enhancing experiences, and work closely with faculty to develop the content knowledge, skills and confidence to graduate ready for success in whatever comes next."

The Scots Pledge

Monmouth's overall pledge gives students the opportunity to:

** Pursue a major which meets their interests and helps them prepare for a rich life and work after college, whether it's their first job or their fifth. This includes:
o Developing a personal portfolio to showcase their skills and achievements;
o Completing coursework focused on college success and navigating life after college;
o Learning relevant technology skills with tools for today and the future, such as Microsoft Suite and AI.
** Meet with full-time faculty academic advisers at least three times a year to plan and view progress on their personalized opportunities that meet their goals;
** Have a personalized session with the director of career development to map out their internship and career plan;
** Gain meaningful skills through a liberal arts education that employers are looking for;
** Apply for TRIO services for more personalized support;
** Have dessert and fun at the president's house with other Scots Pledge Fighting Scots as part of the first class.

Who qualifies

Recipients must meet several criteria, including:

** U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and an Illinois resident;
** a cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale as determined by the final high school transcript (or college transcript for transfer students) submitted prior to enrolling;
** eligible for both the federal Pell Grant and the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP Grant);
** household adjusted gross Income of $100,000 or less;
* reside on campus;
** be a full-time student pursuing their first bachelor's degree and taking at least 12 credit hours.

Students who enter Monmouth as first-time freshmen will have up to four years (eight semesters) of eligibility, while transfer students have up to three years (six semesters) of eligibility.

Two steps to take

Jayne Schreck, Monmouth's associate vice president for student financial services, understands there still might be some uncertainty among prospective students about whether the Scots Pledge applies to them. She suggested two steps - apply for admission to Monmouth and file the 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) starting Oct. 1.

"The only way to officially confirm your eligibility for the federal Pell Grant and the State of Illinois MAP Grant is to file the FAFSA," said Schreck. "Our first financial aid offers for the Fall of 2027 prospective students will be released by Nov. 23, 2026. We encourage you to file the FAFSA as soon as possible using your 2025 federal tax returns."

"The Scots Pledge helps bring greater transparency to the college search process by giving qualifying students and families more confidence about affordability," said Stephanie Levenson, Monmouth's vice president for enrollment management. "At the same time, it opens the door to the high-quality, personalized education that defines the Monmouth experience and provides school counselors and advisers with another tool to help students achieve their college goals."

More information

The Scots Pledge does not apply to fees, housing, meal plans, additional course fees, books, internships and any other charge a student may incur above and beyond tuition for the fall and spring semester.

Students who don't meet the qualifications for the Scots Pledge program will continue to be considered for Monmouth's other generous financial aid programs.

"When you file your FAFSA and share it with Monmouth College, we will prepare a comprehensive financial aid offer for you outlining all the sources of funding for which you qualify," said Schreck.

To learn more about the Scots Pledge program, prospective students are advised to contact their admission counselor or a member of Monmouth's Office of Student Financial Services. Information is also available at https://www.monmouthcollege.edu/offices/student-financial-services/.

Media Attachments

A GOAL WITHIN REACH: Monmouth College's new Scots Pledge program will help future generations of students on their path to the same type of personalized liberal arts education that these graduating members of the Class of 2026 enjoyed.

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