Starting in fall 2017, Washington University in St. Louis will offer debt-free college to graduates of the Knowledge is Power Program charter school network who are academically qualified for the school.
Ashley Jost with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that “the university pledged to meet all demonstrated financial need for all KIPP alumni who meet the academic rigor required to enroll.”
That arrangement implies students may be required to pay some tuition, but any amount above what their family can afford will be covered by the school. That need will likely be great, since 88 percent of students in KIPP schools come from low-income families eligible for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program.
Despite the potentially high need, the university won’t put a cap on the number of KIPP students who can take advantage of the funding — any KIPP graduate, whether from a KIPP middle or high school, who is accepted to the university will get the funding.
KIPP is a nationwide network of public charter schools, with 80,000 students in 200 schools across the country.
The University of Pennsylvania has a similar arrangement with KIPP alumni.
Washington University is ranked 19th in the U.S. News & World Report national university rankings.
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
