What is a Flat-Rate College Tuition?
Prescott College recently announced a tuition reset to start in the fall of 2026—$15,000 per year for all full-time, on-campus students. It’s an exciting initiative that exhibits the values of inclusivity, equity, and accessibility of Prescott College.
It’s an example of fixed-rate tuition, which isn’t common in higher education. This article will explain what fixed-rate tuition is, why it makes a college education more accessible to all, and how Prescott College will implement its tuition reset.
The College Tuition “Sticker Shock”
College truly is an investment. Even with scholarships and grants, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Private universities can be even more expensive and feel out of reach.
For many, thinking about the price of a college education is enough to turn them away or not pursue their dreams. Not only that, but the work to obtain scholarships is intense, and many do not have the time to dedicate to scholarship applications.
The price can also vary by how many credits you take. Fixed-rate tuition can help remove some of that sticker shock and make the cost of attending college more transparent.
Fixed-Rate vs Traditional Tuition
Traditional tuition rates depend on whether a student comes from out of state, how many credits they took, what credits they came to college with, along with a number of other factors. In traditional tuition models, students also have the opportunity to win scholarships, grants, and aid packages.
Fixed-rate tuition means that these factors don’t affect how much a student pays. In Prescott College’s case, each on-campus undergraduate student, no matter where they came from or which classes they’re taking, will pay $15,000 a year starting in the fall of 2026.
Fixed-Rate vs Traditional Tuition
Equity in Action: Why a Fixed-Rate Tuition Makes Education More Accessible
Fixed-rate tuition eliminates a significant number of barriers that many face when trying to get a college degree.
- No scrambling to apply for scholarships
- No stretching themselves thin trying to accomplish everything necessary to qualify for scholarships
- No heavy research on how to qualify for extra financial aid
Finances often get in the way of the future for many college students. By presenting all of the expenses upfront, students can get a clearer picture of their college experience without any stressors of applying for financial aid. It eliminates the “sticker shock” of tuition prices that are sometimes inflated to counter how much financial aid the institution hands out.
Fixed-rate tuition models put all students on equal footing, and all people from all kinds of diverse backgrounds prepare for their career paths. Students who transferred from another institution, are international, are first-generation college attendees, or work to support themselves can explore opportunities that may have otherwise been out of reach for them.
Prescott College’s Tuition Reset
The goal of Prescott College’s tuition reset is to create an easier pathway for young people to enter the workforce. No sticker shock, less debt, and a more equitable system allow students to follow their dreams and secure their future. This reset now allows Prescott College to offer a private college education at a more affordable, transparent price.
Here are a few commonly asked questions about this tuition reset:
What is the New Price to Attend Prescott College?
Prescott College is resetting its annual published tuition price for on-campus undergraduate students from $33,960 in 2025-26 to $15,000 beginning in the fall of 2026.
Why is Prescott College Resetting its Tuition?
Pricing in higher education is complicated. Students don’t often know what their tuition bill will actually be by looking at published prices. By being transparent in our pricing and aligning our published price more closely with the actual price that students currently pay, students will have the information to determine whether a Prescott College education is financially realistic and achievable for them.
Will the New Tuition Be the Same for Every Student?
Yes, the tuition will be the same for all on-campus undergraduate students—both returning and new.
Do You Have More Questions about Prescott College’s Flat-Rate Tuition Reset?
Please check out our full guide to this new tuition reset, or contact the Financial Aid Office at [email protected] or 928.350.1111. Prospective students should contact the Admissions Office at [email protected] or 928.350.2100.