The Fund for Drew

We call it The Fund for Drew . . . our students call it the opportunity of a lifetime.

What is The Fund for Drew?

The Fund for Drew is the new collective name for the College of Liberal Arts, Theological School and Caspersen School of Graduate Studies and University annual funds. The annual funds are made up of unrestricted donations from alumni, parents, employees and friends of the University.

This new name reflects a growing sense at Drew of an interconnected community of learning that is coming together with shared purpose and values to explore the complex issues of our time.

However, the University is still comprised of three distinct schools and Drew recognizes that individuals usually prefer their donations to support the program with which they are affiliated. So, as in the past, donations to The Fund for Drew will be credited to the annual fund for the school from which the donor has his/her first Drew degree, unless otherwise designated.

How is The Fund for Drew used?

Although Drew’s “sticker price” was $39,573 for tuition and fees in the College last year, almost 97% of these students received some level of scholarship support. This tuition discounting creates a gap between our total tuition revenue and the expenses for instruction, academic support, co-curricular programming, and student services each year. As a result, Drew must secure additional revenue in the form of unrestricted gifts to be able to provide scholarship support. The Fund for Drew serves to make up the difference between tuition revenue and annual expenditures, enabling the university to provide financial assistance that makes a Drew education attainable for today’s students.

How much financial aid does Drew give?

Since its founding, Drew has provided scholarship support to students who would otherwise not be able to afford higher education as well as to students with outstanding academic records. Last year 57.9% of all College students received need-based scholarships (averaging $24,393), and 39% of undergraduates received merit-based awards (averaging $11,707). In all, Drew gave out $27 million from its own resources last academic year to undergraduate students. As a result of this significant institutional aid, according to the non-profit Project on Student Debt, Drew graduates owe less than those of almost every other four year college or university in the state.

Why is a Drew education so expensive?

A Drew education is characterized by small classes where professors and students know one another. Drew students have access to a rich and distinctive program of academic and co-curricular offerings that foster their intellectual and social growth. This kind of individualized, high-impact education is expensive to provide.

In Drew’s close-knit community of teachers and learners, students are encouraged to participate actively in the classroom and beyond – to ask questions, challenge assumptions, share their own viewpoint and understand others. Because of the intentionally low ratio of students to teachers at Drew, professors are able to provide feedback on assignments and mentor students according to their unique needs and goals.

In addition to class-based curriculum, Drew students are required to participate in any of a wide range of experiential learning opportunities, such as the Drew International Seminars, the New York semesters, or academic internships. Co-curricular programming is also considered a fundamental component of a Drew education. Participation in programs such as Ranger Athletics, Orientation Committee, and Drew University Dramatic Society has a significant impact on the quality of the student experience and the development of the very leadership and people skills that will help today’s students be successful in their adult lives.

Why should alumni contribute to The Fund for Drew?

Alumni, through their contributions, help make it possible for Drew to enroll and graduate deserving students. As former students who benefited from the support of those that came before them, alumni can give back in gratitude for the education they received and make it possible for the next generation of students to have the same opportunity.

Alumni donations provide the resources needed to enroll promising students. These students contribute to the academic and social community while at Drew and then take their Drew credentials with them to graduate school and the work place. By helping to recruit and retain the best and brightest students, alumni are helping to enhance the reputation of Drew, and thereby the value of their own degree.

Drew’s mission is to graduate students who are prepared to participate in and contribute to our world as informed and thoughtful citizens. If we, like the philosopher John Dewey, believe that “education is the fundamental method of social progress” then providing an intellectually and morally grounded education to the next generation is truly paramount.