This summer, hundreds of high school students are attending the University of Miami’s Pre-College summer program to decide if UM is the right choice for their academic experience.
While the program allows them to try out possible majors and develop friendships, it also allows them to communicate with university staff and get informed about their financial options.
One factor in deciding to attend the school is the cost of attendance and how much it’s expected to rise in four years as students. For the 2024-2025 school year, UM’s cost of attendance is estimated to be over $93,000. This is a $5,000 increase from the previous academic year.
UM’s student newspaper, The Miami Hurricane, reports that for students living on campus, this is a nearly 6% increase from the previous academic year.
Raphaela Hanna is applying for universities and UM is one of her main options. She is attending UM’s school program and getting informed about the university.
However, she was not aware of the yearly increase.
“If this school were to get any more expensive than it already is, I think it would affect whether or not I choose to go here,” Hanna said, “I think it’s what turns a lot of people away.”
But UM’s ‘Canes Central associate, Desmond Fairell, says the university gives students multiple options to adapt to the yearly cost of attendance increases.
‘Canes Central serves as the first point-of-contact for the registrar, financial aid and student accounts.
“When you apply to the university, there are automatic scholarships through admissions. That’s a part of admissions’ review,” Fairell explains. “Then, there’s also the CSS Profile.”
The CSS profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. International students, who do not apply to government financial aid and loans, are still eligible to apply to private loans and the CSS Profile, Fairell explains.
UM students Diego Zubillaga Chavez and Justin Ammaturo told the student newspaper, The Miami Hurricane that every time the university raises tuition, they never tell students.
Senior financial aid advisor Lori Roomes says that this is something students will have to check with student affairs, but informing applicants of a yearly increase is standard procedure.
“Students are informed that tuition will generally go up 3 to 4% each year,” Roomes said. “Financial aid is reviewed based on federal policy, institutional policy… once all of that is awarded and determined, then the school will look if there’s a remaining gap where they can award them any kind of institutional need-based grant.”
Aside from informing applicants, UM’s website also claims to commit to college cost transparency.
UM’s undergraduate financial aid website reads: “The University of Miami is committed to using the principles & standards of the college cost transparency initiative in its student financial aid offer.”
However, not every applicant believes the university is clear or specific enough.
Mia Bella is a high school student attending UM’s summer school program to see what being a student there could be like.
Although she was aware of the most recent tuition increase, she believes neither she nor her friends also applying are aware that the cost of attendance increase includes transportation, housing and books.
She also did not know that the recent increases in cost of attendance have surpassed the expected 3% to 4% yearly increase, as reported by The Miami Hurricane.
“I was aware of a tuition increase this year, but I didn’t know about the overall increase,” Bella said. “I don’t think any of us know.”
Roomes reiterates that no matter the institution they are attending, students need to make sure they do their research and check out the financial aid and admissions pages.
“Look and see what’s required before you go and apply to the university to make sure it’s going to be feasible for you and your family, especially as an undergraduate student,” Roomes said.
