In a world full of students plagued with financial problems, Florida International University (FIU) now offers a route for students that may face these issues. The plan, known as “FIU’s Golden Promise” guarantees to fully pay a student’s tuition and fees if they have an Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, of zero.  

The EFC provides an estimate of how much a student’s parents could contribute to pay for their college education. According to Value Colleges, this typically applies to students whose family has an average annual income of less than $24,000. 

“I think it’s a good plan to give us more students more opportunities,” Palmetto junior Tyler Witt said. 

In order to qualify, students must have registered for at least 12 credits per semester, 30 credit hours every year and a GPA of 2.0 or higher at the end of every semester. Additionally, recipients must be a first-year college freshman, be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Florida, submit the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid and have an EFC of 0. 

Implemented at the start of the 2017 school year, the Golden Promise has been estimated to cover approximately 1,200 students a year. This is an exciting opportunity for students who may need financial assistance in enrolling in a school in addition to the Bright Future Scholarship program, or for students who simply want a cost-effective plan when enrolling in college. 

“Since cost is one of the biggest worries to students all over the country, FIU’s new plan will definitely make students like me consider the school more when decision time comes,” Palmetto junior Luca Rodriguez said. 

Applying to colleges can be stressful for all students, especially those who may have difficulty paying for it. However, with the Golden Promise, students can relax a bit knowing that they have options that will help them attend college despite financial hardships.