Tuition boost attributed to Holy Cross's NIL Fund, dubbed the "Primary Motor"

Tuition boost attributed to Holy Cross's NIL Fund, dubbed the "Primary Motor"

In a surprising turn of events, Holy Cross has revealed the true reason behind the recent tuition increase. A YouTube video titled "The Truth - A Message About Tuition Increases" sheds light on the complex financial pressures faced by higher education institutions, including Holy Cross.

The video, featuring President Rougeau and Athletic Director Hughes, explains that the tuition increase is not simply a money-making move but a response to systemic challenges in sustaining educational quality and operations.

The video discusses several factors contributing to these pressures. One such factor is declining enrollments due to demographic shifts, leading to fewer students and less tuition revenue. Rising operational costs and federal funding cuts also force universities to compensate for reduced government support by increasing tuition. The need to adapt to technological disruptions, especially AI integration, requires investments in new educational tools, staff training, and infrastructure, adding to costs.

A broader trend of skyrocketing college costs over decades has also contributed to tuition hikes at many institutions. While these points describe general forces on higher education and are consistent with Holy Cross's situation, the video emphasizes that tuition increases are not simply greed but are reactions to systemic challenges in sustaining educational quality and operations.

However, the video also reveals that a significant portion of the tuition increase is earmarked for Holy Cross' athletic programs. With the implementation of the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rule, college athletes can now get paid in exchange for their name, image, and likeness. To compete with other schools in the NIL era, Holy Cross aims to improve its status as a sports school, as expressed by Athletic Director Hughes.

This revelation comes after President Rougeau announced a 5.6% tuition increase for the next academic year, setting the tuition for the 2025/26 academic year at $68,090. Since the 2022-2023 academic year, Holy Cross has been covering tuition for students from families with annual incomes of less than $100,000. In the 2024-2025 academic year, 65% of Holy Cross' student body benefited from the $76.5 million the school set aside for tuition coverage.

Despite the school's efforts to support students, Holy Cross' alumni have been lagging behind in donating to the NIL fund. This situation has prompted the school to send out emails to students' families, including one on Friday, Feb. 28, containing a link to the YouTube video.

In an interview on April 9th, 2024, President Rougeau discussed the tuition increase, campus visit, and commencement. The interview provided further insight into the school's financial situation and its plans for the future.

One such donor to Holy Cross' NIL fund is Brendan Grudberg '28. As the NIL era continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Holy Cross adapts and competes in the world of college sports.

[1] "The Enrollment Cliff: Why Colleges Are Struggling to Attract Students." The Atlantic, 2021. [2] "The College Cost Crisis: Why Tuition Keeps Rising." The New York Times, 2019. [3] "The Rising Cost of Higher Education: Causes and Solutions." Brookings Institution, 2018.

1. The video presented by President Rougeau and Athletic Director Hughes on Holy Cross' YouTube channel discusses the reasons behind the recent tuition increase, attributing it to systemic challenges in higher education, including declining enrollments, rising operational costs, federal funding cuts, and technological disruptions.
2. The explanatory video stresses that tuition increases are not primarily a revenue-generating approach but a response to systemic challenges in ensuring educational quality and preserving operations for universities like Holy Cross.
3. One of the factors contributing to the financial pressures on Holy Cross is the increases in costs associated with adapting to technological advancements, specifically AI integration, which requires investments in new educational tools, staff training, and infrastructure.
4. The video reveals that a portion of the tuition increase is allocated to Holy Cross' athletic programs, as the school aims to compete in the new era of college sports after the implementation of the NIL rule, allowing college athletes to get paid for their name, image, and likeness.
5. President Rougeau announced a 5.6% tuition increase for the 2025-26 academic year, setting the tuition at $68,090, while the school continues to cover tuition for students from families with annual incomes below $100,000.
6. Holy Cross' alumni have been failing to contribute enough to the NIL fund, prompting the school to reach out to families via emails, including one sent on Friday, Feb. 28, with a link to the YouTube video explaining the reasons behind the tuition increase.

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