Words by Smiley Team
The United States has been in a spin of late with soaring gas prices, and interest rates higher than they’ve been in over 40 years. An undercurrent to that is the ongoing student debt crisis which has recently climbed past $1.75 trillion.
Many US students go into school knowing that the only way for them to avoid an education is to take on that oftentimes insurmountable debt.
But the 2022 graduating class of Wiley College in Texas will not have that problem.
At the school’s 133rd graduation ceremony the President & CEO Dr. Herman J. Felton, Jr. announced that their balances had been paid off.
“Our commitment to our students goes beyond their time while they are enrolled,” said Felton. “We are grateful for this anonymous donor who will assist the students in paying off their balances.”
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The estimated debt was over $300,000, but the donor has remained anonymous.
“As Wiley College closes the academic semester and prepares for its Sesquicentennial Celebrations beginning in July, this is a great way to start the celebration of 150 years of the College’s contributions to the world," added Felton.
Wiley College is an HBCU that was founded in 1873 by the Methodist Episcopal Church's Bishop Isaac Wiley and certified in 1882 by the Freedman's Aid Society, it is one of the oldest predominantly black colleges west of the Mississippi River.
The school has been working to lower its tuition, a number that they recently got to as low as $17,500 with room and board included.
SUPPORT: Check out the Education Trust. They help low-income students with affording the costs of school including tuition, and books, among other things.
JOIN: You can join the movement for educational justice – find out more.
