With the cost of a college education escalating, scholarships are more important than ever.
Estimated costs for a Wisconsin resident for the 2016-2017 academic year at UW-Madison were $25,294/year. (Tuition, room and board, and fees.) Private colleges average $49,320. These price tags show a 3.7% increase at private colleges and 2.9% increase at public universities over the past year and close to a 5% increase in cost over the past ten years.
Of course, that’s not the total price. You still have to buy books and supplies, and do your laundry, and pay for the occasional pizza.
Rising cost of a college education and the failure of federal grants to keep pace with the higher rates of tuition has led to increasing student debt. The average debt of a graduating senior from a college in Wisconsin was $28,950. 69% of students had debt. Bottom line: College is expensive, and the price is increasing.
A scholarship is a way of helping pay the staggering costs today’s college students are experiencing. The Marshfield Area Community Foundation publicizes the scholarships we and others offer to ensure that there is a good field of applicants and as a public service. That’s what the Community Foundation is all about. Connecting people who care with causes that matter. We have published our Scholarship Bulletin for the past twelve years to help scholarship seekers find the money that is being offered by local community groups, individuals, foundations, and businesses. The Marshfield Area Community Foundation manages over 70 scholarships itself.
We believe every high school student, every non-traditional student, should take advantage of the generosity our community offers through these scholarships. These groups see giving scholarships as an investment in the future of our community. The families, individuals, organizations, and businesses that sponsor these scholarships and are providing these opportunities should be very proud of the impact they are making on the lives of Central Wisconsin students. We all can be thankful these people have decided to make a real difference in the educational opportunities for the people who live here.
Scholarships are another addition to MACF’s long list of contributions to the community, which include Wildwood Station, Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library, Hackman Field, the Youth Baseball fields, Weber Park, Hamus Park, Hardacre Park, Braem Park Disk Golf, the Skate Park, Tiny Tiger Intergenerational Center, the ACE Academy, Griese Park, and many, many more.
A tax exempt, non-profit organization, MACF uses public support to better connect those with a cause in mind to its completion while taking care of administrative tasks, and continues to establish permanent, named funds for public benefit.
View more videos on Marshfield Area Community Foundation in honor of their 25th anniversary at this link.