College is usually a four-year journey where students prepare for their future careers and make friends along the way. However, a major dilemma for many students are the costs and how expensive it can be, which leads to the question: How are students at Rowan paying for college?

The most common answer was a combination of loans, scholarships, and help from their parents.

Freshman Isaac Rojas-Benitez, a psychology major, has his tuition costs covered by his parents but also has help from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through Chapter 35. 

“My dad was in the military, so the VA helps out with part of my tuition, which is a big help,” said Rojas-Benitez. “It’s called Chapter 35, and because of it I don’t have to worry about how much life on campus is.” 

Rojas-Benitez works part-time as a dog walker on weekends. The combination of the revenue he gets from his job and having his college costs covered allows him to spend his money on extracurricular activities. 

Junior Abigail Weber, an elementary education major, is in a similar situation as Rojas-Benitez. Because she lives on campus, Weber and her parents are covering her living costs out of pocket, but they are handling her tuition costs through loans. She also works part-time at the Rowan REC Center. 

“I use the money from the REC Center towards other things outside of school because it’s not going to cover tuition, but I work in the summer. That money is saved up and helps pay off my college, along with help from my parents,” said Weber. 

Many other students, whether they live on campus or commute, had similar answers regarding working throughout the semester. A common theme amongst them was that the money they make isn’t enough to cover an entire semester, so they would rather spend it on other expenses or spend it on fun activities.

Junior Chris Keppel, a biology major, however, is an interesting case. He took a few gap years after high school in order to pursue work. He became a medical assistant at Penn Medicine and eventually decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology in order to go further in the medical field. His parents cover his living costs and meal plan on campus, but Keppel handles his tuition costs himself. Because he’s 26 years old, when he applied for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), they only looked at his own finances because he is considered an independent student. He doesn’t work during the semester, but can afford to put all his focus on his courses because of his old job. 

“My aunt helped me become a medical assistant at Penn Medicine because she works there,” said Keppel. “Because of that job and my parents’ help, I don’t have to worry about money and entirely put all my focus on my studies.” 

Scholarships were a frequent response from students. Sophomore Isabella Dabbenigno, a nursing major, received a presidential scholarship and works at Virtua through a program from Rowan, which covers the rest of her tuition. Dabbenigno commutes from Medford and says that having her college costs covered allows her to spend her money on gas and parking. 

“I work 12-hour days, but it pays for my college, and my summer classes are covered because of it,” said Dabbenigno.