Is SLU a rich kids school?
Sometimes impressions are formed at first glance-clothing for example, used to be an indication of wealth and status. But students from all economic backgrounds purchase their clothing at the Gap, Old Navy and L.L. Bean. So, superficial impressions are misleading. A couple of figures may prove instructive: Whereas in 1985 the number of St. Lawrence students whose family income was over $100,000 considerably exceeded the national average for private liberal arts colleges (it was almost double in the late ’80s), in two of the most recent three years or which figures are available (1998 and 2000) it has been below that average. The percentage of St. Lawrence students with family incomes over $100,000 has declined from a high of 42% in 1989 to 30% and 26% (men and women, respectively) in 2000. Another measure is financial aid. Historically, around 70% of St. Lawrence students receive need-based aid to meet the annual comprehensive fee, which currently stands at $32,410. While the fee has g
