APRIL FOOLS’: This article was published as part of The News-Letter’s annual April Fools’ edition, an attempt at adding some humor to a newspaper that is normally very serious about its reporting. This is not true.
On Wed. March 26, the University announced that a $4.5 billion gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies would cover full tuition for undergraduate students who fulfill certain criteria, such as majoring in Political Science, starting in Fall 2025.
In an email to the Hopkins community, President Ronald J. Daniels stated that the aid would be based on neither need nor merit. Instead, students will receive financial packages calculated based on major, dorm history at the University and class attendance, among other factors. A full list of the requirements can be found here.
In an interview with The News-Letter, Michael Bloomberg discussed that, like many Americans, he feels overwhelmed by the recent news cycle and wants to bolster graduation rates at universities. As such, Bloomberg shared that he felt compelled to donate additional funds to Hopkins undergraduates following his large donation to the Hopkins School of Medicine in July 2024.
“The reality of great wealth is that you can't spend it and you can't take it with you,” Bloomberg said. “This 4.5 billion donation is a push against the current political climate as well as a gentle reminder that Trump was not the wealthiest presidential candidate in American history; that was me.”
The funds were donated under a no-strings-attached clause, meaning that the University may choose to allocate the donation as it sees fit. The Student Government Association (SGA) pushed for the administration to direct the money to undergraduate aid. This move is consistent with SGA’s recent imperative to decrease tuition in response to the MSE closure, echoing the push for a 10% decrease in tuition during COVID-19.
At a meeting with Daniels, SGA representatives argued that, in the last decade, Hopkins has faced a sharp decrease in quality of education while tuition has only risen.
As examples of reduced academic value, SGA listed extensive construction, lack of study spaces, mice in dining areas and poor comedic value on Sidechat, the exception to which was the Undercooked Salmongate.
Daniels rebuffed SGA’s claims, arguing that Sidechat holds steadfast in its position as a high-quality forum that bolsters student life.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the University is operating according to its mission statement.
“As I state in my book, What Universities Owe Democracy, higher education is an intellectual tool which steeps diverse perspectives into a single teacup. If you look closely at the teacup, you realize it is the planet Earth.” Daniels said. “That being said, I will not overlook that there are areas where we, like any other institution, could improve.”
Acknowledging that the University has not delivered on the promises implicit in its reputation and price tag, Daniels convinced The Board of Trustees to comply with SGA’s proposal to invest Bloomberg’s donation in undergraduate tuition.
The most comprehensive deduction will be offered to Political Science students, who will be exempt from all tuition costs. Housing and meals, on the other hand, will not be covered by the donation.
Multiple students, parents and partner institutions have voiced concerns over assigning aid based on department, specifically given the selective nature of the allocation.
In an interview with The News-Letter, sophomore Sanstu Ytion discussed a recent shift in his academic plans.
“I’m a Film and Media Studies major who always thought that the news or anything political wasn’t really my cup of tea,” he said. “But recently, I’ve been trying new infusions, one could say. I’ve re-structured my classes for the next two years so I can graduate as a double major in Political Science. I’m really thankful my tuition is covered.”
Furthermore, Daniels explained that any undergraduate student who has resided in McCoy Hall and is currently enrolled full-time will automatically have full tuition costs waived. The News-Letter applauds this decision.
“We acknowledge the mice, the lack of community, the fact that no student has engaged with What Universities Owe Democracy — but the fact that McCoy tenants have taken legal action over their living situation points to a real issue that must be addressed,” Daniels said. “Their tuition, along with that of Political Science students, is completely free.”
In an interview with The News-Letter, freshman Naughtgon Reed Yurbuk discussed how the new dining hall regulations have improved his economic stability.
“Going to the FFC is like a treasure hunt now, or like having a part-time job,” he said. “After I read that email saying that anybody who finds moldy food or undercooked meat would get a $14 J-Cash reimbursement for that meal, I’ve been earning around fifty bucks a week”.
Daniels did not comment on the concerns over the selective allocation of the donation. Instead, in his email to the University, he discussed the intention behind the tuition reduction.
“We want students that will engage with the foundational ideas described in my book, What Universities Owe Democracy. We want students to focus on their studies rather than worrying about taking out loans to cover exorbitant tuition fees,” Daniels wrote. “It’s embarrassing to consider that we could still be requiring students to pay such large sums without the decorum of providing them with a library.”
While the $64,730 tuition figure is confirmed to drop to zero for Political Science students, the University has yet to release the details regarding how tuition deductions will affect other undergraduates. Nonetheless, Daniels has stated that the donation is substantial enough that most undergraduates can expect deductions to some extent starting in the 2025–2026 academic year.
A “Net Price Calculator” to estimate tuition costs based on major, dorm history and class attendance is set to be published two weeks before course registration for Fall 2025.
