Tuition, Cost & Aid

Of course it's extremely expensive! You need to believe in this education to be here, and definitely to pay for here. However, if you really want to be here, there are a multitude of options to help pay. The financial aid assistance, from my experience, was very good. We're talking 30,000 grants. Of course, it all depends on your aid package. But the fin-aid office people WILL work with you. They try very hard to do what they can and work with you and your situation, and deadlines are importan of course, but (like the rest of the campus) they are human beings who consider you as such and don't just cut you off and give up on you if you miss some stupid deadline. They will work with you. Another thing, also, is that there are several short-term job opportunities, and so far, always some sort of job opportunity. Of course having a car is extremely helpful for keeping your job options open. Work-study is also sort of difficult to get since there are not that many students here. There are few jobs because of the size of the campus, so you have to turn your fin aid info in AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. But there is always a work option. There's tons of people nearby who offer really good jobs at their houses, watching their kids, dog-walking, cleaning, etc... and we live in one of the richest areas of Santa Fe, so we're talking a bunch of wealthy folks who can give you easy jobs for pretty good hourly wages.

Expensive. Very expensive. However, financial aid seems remarkably liberal and helpful, so don't get turned off by the sticker price, since you will almost certainly be paying less than that. Also, the college has just started a $7500 grant for all New Mexico resident freshman, regardless of need.

Importantly, almost all of the seniors or recent graduates I have spoken to have told me that the experience was absolutely 100% worth it. Some have wished they could go do it all again, or that the program was longer than 4 years.

Also: the college does not offer any scholarships or aid based on merit. If you think you will need additional aid beyond what the school and the government will award, you will need to find outside money.

The school is very small, and if you don't have too much money to spend around, you should really work on what money goes into this school otherwise look elsewhere, because this education is very different from other schools, and I guess if you really feel like this is your school, apart from the money, you'll find a way.

They give good packages for your demonstrated need.