At Seton College, Students Can Earn Their Degrees Debt-Free

Infinite Henry is the Assistant Director of Admissions at Seton College of the University of Mount Saint VIncent in Riverdale, NY.

At Come to Believe (CTB), we believe finances should not come in the way of students reaching their full potential. Our two-year college model is affordable and gives students the credits and skills they need to transfer seamlessly into a four-year degree program. Still, knowing how to pay for college is not easy. Fortunately, schools that follow the CTB model, like Seton College at the University of Mount St. Vincent, have a number of resources available to students to help make planning for college more accessible. 

Seton College will welcome its first-ever class in the fall of 2024. We spoke to Seton College’s Assistant Admissions Director, Infinite Henry, about how she and the other faculty at the school are helping students finance their education and graduate debt-free. 

Q: What is your advice for first-generation college students who might not know how to approach applying for financial aid?

When it comes to financing college, it can be really tough if you are the first one in your family to go through the process. If you don’t know where to start, you can reach out to Seton College and talk with one of our qualified faculty members to get some guidance on applying for financial aid. If you’re a New York resident, the main documents you must fill out are the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (NYS TAP). Seton advisors can help you fill out these forms because we want you to graduate from our program debt-free. We also host plenty of information sessions throughout the week where we can answer any questions you may have. The walk-in Wednesdays, virtual information Thursdays, and Seton Saturdays programs are designed to get information about our school and financing to students and their families. 

Q: What are other ways I can help fund my college education?

There is a widespread misconception that college means loans and debt. Seton proves that this is not always the case. Some students don’t think to ask for help on how to finance school, but that’s actually one of the best things you can do. Seton College wants to teach students financial literacy, so we have counselors to help students and their families find information about college costs, grants and scholarships before their enrollment. I always recommend that students be proactive and contact the school’s financial aid office to ask about more opportunities for aid. You’d be surprised how often this works out for students. 

Q: How does Seton help students save money while attending college?

In addition to its low tuition, Seton wants students not to worry about the burdensome extra costs of a college education. Seton provides every student with a laptop for their studies, daily access to breakfast and lunch on campus, free bus passes, and a campus shuttle to New York City. Seton also runs on a three-day-a-week schedule, meaning students can have days to work and save money. This flexibility is super unique to our school.

Q: How does Seton save students money in the long run?

Seton doesn’t just want to help students save while they attend our college; we want them to use the financial literacy skills they have learned throughout the rest of their lives. By getting their associate’s degree at Seton, students will save in the long run, especially if they go to a four-year university after graduation. The first two years of a four-year college are usually general requirements, no matter where you go. So getting these credits at a school like Seton, where tuition is very affordable or free for our students, is much more cost-effective. We also have plenty of resources to support students looking to attend a four-year college, whether they want to improve their application materials or are looking for assistance with financing.