Strategic Priorities

Affordable and Accessible Brown School Education

Graduate tuition costs increase annually, and student debt is a burden for far too many Brown School graduates. While a Brown School education provides significant value beyond earning potential, the income-to-debt ratio of our graduates can adversely affect their career paths. The success of our graduates, and thus the value of their education, will be amplified if we can limit yearly tuition costs, as well as lower the student debt burden.

Currently, the School offers only full-time, on-campus degree options. We recognize that part-time programs can help meet the needs of those who want to advance their education while retaining their professional status. Offering more flexible alternatives may help to defray the cost of graduate school and provide greater access to our degrees.

Progress Reports

Progress Report 2022

This strategic priority team is committed to making a Brown School education affordable and financially accessible by alleviating student debt through the expansion of scholarship support as well as other supports such as practicum stipends, emergency funding and part-time programs. Launched in fall 2022, the University’s Student Initiative, Make Way, will build critical resources for new scholarships. Additionally, the team is working with Advancement and other school partners to explore funding channels for students like expanding paid practicum and research opportunities. Currently, team members are meeting one-on-one with students to discuss practicum needs as well as determining available resources to support stipends. Further, the team is working on streamlining the emergency funding request process so students in urgent need can secure faster funding.

The committee is exploring ways to increase educational access by creating flexible degree options across all three Master’s degree programs. In fall 2022, the Brown School launched a pilot part-time MSW program as a cohort-based model for the mental health concentration, clinical social work track. Eight students matriculated into the inaugural cohort. A program director was hired in July and an implementation team has been established for the continued development of other part-time MSW programs. In fall of 2023, Social Impact Leadership will be added as a second concentration option, with Children, Youth & Families added in fall 2024.

Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Meet the full financial need of Brown School students who come from backgrounds of constrained resources and for those students with outstanding loans.

Objectives:

Eliminate the reliance on student loans to cover costs related to tuition and living expenses, particularly for those students who have taken on debt to finance their undergraduate education.
Expand scholarship support for students, as well as other sources of financial assistance, including paid practicum and research opportunities.
Advance equity by shifting our paradigm for giving scholarships from traditionally merit-based to need-based to break down embedded institutional structures that create barriers to access.
Provide a support system for students who come from backgrounds of constrained resources to ensure their successful completion of their degree program.
Expand financial and program supports for international students to increase retention and decrease loan burden.

Goal 2: Provide flexible and adaptable degree program options to break down barriers to access and success.