Marist's new tuition match is the kind of move that sounds good in a press release and actually means something in a group chat. For any student who has stared at a private school price tag and done the math twice, this is a real offer: if you qualify for admission and you're a New York resident, Marist says it'll match what you'd pay at a SUNY campus. That's not a scholarship you have to chase down with a dozen essays. It's a straight-up price drop for the same degree. And for a lot of us who picked a school based on what we could afford, not just what we loved, that's the difference between "maybe" and "bet."
The honest take here is that this is smart, but it's not charity. Marist is a private college competing with public options that are already right down the road. Matching tuition is a way to pull in students who might otherwise see "private" and assume it's out of reach. I get it. I'm not mad at the strategy. But for the reader asking me if this is worth looking into, here's the practical part: this only helps if you're a New York resident, and it only helps if you're admitted. So the real question isn't whether this is a good deal. It is. The question is whether you actually want to go to Marist for what it offers beyond the price tag. That's a campus visit, a conversation with current students, and a look at your own priorities. Don't pick a school just because the sticker got friendlier. Pick it because you'd still be happy there when finals hit and the coffee runs out.
What I'd tell a friend who asked about this is simple: run the numbers for your specific situation, but don't stop at the bill. Tuition is one line. You still need to know about housing, fees, food, and whether you'd actually fit in. Marist is a solid school with a good reputation, but "cheaper than I expected" doesn't mean "right for me." And that's not a knock on Marist. It's a reminder that college is a four-year commitment, not a sale you have to close in one sitting. The fact that they're willing to match public tuition says they want to compete for students like you. That's real. But you should still show up with your own checklist and make sure they check your boxes, not just the other way around.
One thing I'm watching: whether other private colleges in New York follow suit. If Marist does this and sees a bump in applications, you better believe admissions offices across the state are taking notes. That could mean more options for students who thought private school was off the table. That's a good problem to have. For now, the takeaway is this: if you're a New York resident with decent grades and a real interest in Marist, don't cross it off your list because of cost. Apply, get your financial aid letter, and then decide with your eyes open. That's what a practical optimist would do. Plan ahead, expect a few bumps, and make the call based on what's actually in front of you.
