Public Price Match Plus

Public Price Match

Think RMU is more expensive than Pitt and Penn State? (And Kent State? And WVU?) Think again.

RMU now offers Public Price Match Plus, a scholarship program that aims to ensure that the average cost to attend Robert Morris University is lower than the average cost to attend the main campuses of Pitt, Penn State, Kent State, and West Virginia University (WVU) for qualified students. RMU believes students should choose the university that is the best fit for them, and cost should not get in the way.

Here’s how it works: For Pennsylvania residents who are accepted to the main campus of either the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Kent State, or WVU, RMU will provide a scholarship that will guarantee to match the average cost of attendance of Pitt/Penn or Kent/WVU, plus add an additional $3,000, just for good measure.

It’s worth mentioning, that in many cases, our financial aid packages already include enough aid to make the cost to attend RMU less than the cost to attend than all those universities mentioned above. 

Who's Eligible?

Eligibility is open to incoming first-year students who are admitted to RMU and to either Penn State’s campus at University Park, Pitt’s Oakland campus, Kent State’s Kent campus, or WVU’s Morgantown campus. 

Students must be Pennsylvania residents and plan to live on RMU’s campus in Moon Township.

Students who qualify must submit a copy of their letter of acceptance to the main campus of Pitt, Penn State, Kent State, or WVU and a letter from their high school guidance counselor confirming their acceptance.

How Does It Work?

The Public Price Match Plus scholarship amount is based on the average annual in-state cost of attendance (COA) at the main campuses of Pitt and Penn State or the average out-of-state COA for Kent State and WVU. That average is subtracted from the cost of attendance at RMU to calculate the base scholarship amount. Then, RMU increases that scholarship figure by $3,000. Here’s the math:

  • Our COA – Their Average COA = Base Scholarship
  • Base Scholarship + $3000 = Public Price Match Plus Scholarship

Public Price Match Plus Scholarship Amounts for 2021-22
Pitt/Penn State: $15,754
Kent State/WVU: $12,975

Please note, if you’ve been offered a merit based scholarship from RMU that is already greater than the scholarship amounts listed above, no further action is required, as we’ve already accomplished our goal of making sure we’re offering enough aid to cover the difference in cost between RMU and the public universities referenced. 

The scholarship is renewable for up to four academic years, and will be recalculated each year, based on the annual COA. The award may go up from year to year, but it will never decrease. Final financial aid award packages vary based on individual need and circumstances. Please review your financial aid award letter to assist in choosing the right school for your specific situation. To find out more, email pricematch@rmu.edu.

Detailed COA Information

The Public Price Match Plus scholarship amount is based on the average annual in-state cost of attendance (COA) at the main campuses of Pitt and Penn State or the average out-of-state COA for Kent State and WVU. That average is subtracted from the cost of attendance at RMU to calculate the base scholarship amount. Then, RMU increases that scholarship figure by $3,000.

Qualifying In-State Institutions Cost of Attendance
University of Pittsburgh main campus $33,924
Penn State main campus $34,223
Average Pitt/Penn State cost of attendance $34,074
Your cost to attend RMU with the
Public Price Match Plus Scholarship
$31,074
Qualifying Out-of-State Institutions Cost of Attendance
Kent State main campus $37,542
West Virginia University main campus $40,150
Average Kent/WVU cost of attendance $38,846
Your cost to attend RMU with the
Public Price Match Plus Scholarship
$35,846

*Please note, total COA includes direct costs such as tuition, fees, room and board, plus indirect costs such as books, supplies, transportation and miscellaneous living expenses.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Public Price Match scholarship?

Pennsylvania residents who have been admitted to the main campus of Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Kent State, or West Virginia University.

Are transfer students eligible?

Transfer students are not eligible at this time.

Will RMU match the price of any public institution?

RMU will only match the average cost of attendance of the main campuses of Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Kent State, and West Virginia University.

How is the cost of attendance calculated?

Cost of attendance (COA) is defined by the U.S. Department of Education to include tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and personal expenses, including travel.

Is this scholarship renewable?

The Public Price Match Plus scholarship is renewable annually as long as the recipient maintains a minimum 3.0 grade point average at RMU.

I received an academic scholarship from RMU. Am I also eligible for the Public Price Match Plus scholarship?

The Public Price Match Plus scholarship would replace the academic scholarship from RMU. Students who are offered more than one scholarship from RMU are free to choose whichever one has the highest value.

Does the scholarship amount stay the same each year?

The scholarship will be recalculated each year, based on the annual COA. An award may increase, but it will never decrease.

If I qualify for the Public Price Match Plus scholarship, am I eligible for any additional aid?

Students continue to be eligible for federal, state, and other sources of external aid based on their eligibility requirements, including the Pittsburgh Promise scholarship. They may be eligible for a limited number of other institutional aid awards, but no additional RMU academic merit awards.

What happens if I don’t maintain the minimum GPA?

The financial aid office reviews the eligibility of all students who receive scholarships from RMU. Students who do not maintain a 3.0 GPA are no longer eligible for the Public Price Match Plus scholarship.

Why is RMU offering this scholarship?

RMU is a leader in affordable education, and our tuition, room, and board costs are approximately 10 percent lower than the median for private colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. (Based on benchmarking with institutions that belong to the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania.) The Public Price Match Plus is another example of RMU’s desire to make higher education accessible to all students who are prepared to enter college and earn a degree. 

 

The average COA for a full-time residential student at University of Pittsburgh (main campus) and Penn State (main campus) for 2019-2020 is $35,276, and the average COA for a full-time residential student at Kent State (main campus) and WVU (main campus) for 2019-2020 is $38,050.

The in-state (Pitt and Penn State) Public Price Match Plus for 2019-2020 is equal to $15,754. Here's how it's calculated: $48,025 (RMU COA) - $35,276 = $12,754* (Public Price Match) + $3,000 (Plus).

* Accountants reading the fine print may notice that our in-state PPMP is $5 more than it needs to be. That’s because we promised the award would never decrease.  We weren’t kidding.

The out-of-state (Kent State and WVU) Public Price Match Plus for 2019-2020 is equal to $12,975. Here's how it's calculated: $48,025 (RMU COA) - $38,050 = $9,975 (Public Price Match) + $3,000 (Plus).