Farmington in Four News Conference

In 2010, the University of Maine at Farmington announced "Farmington in Four," an innovative commitment to ensure students can complete their UMF degree in four years — or the required coursework in their fifth year is free. (The Farmington in Four guarantee covers tuition, mandatory fees, and required books and materials for any coursework required for the completion of a participating students' bachelor's degree beyond the fourth year of study.) Farmington in Four may be the ideal way for UMF students to complete their degree in four years, allowing them to begin to realize their professional dreams a full year or two earlier than their peers at many other colleges. That's a real competitive advantage. It's also an economic advantage, the rationale being that if a UMF student completes their degree in four years (as opposed to five or six) it will cost less in the long run, saving on room & board, mandatory fees and more. It may also help them to graduate with fewer loans and less debt. In addition, students avoid the opportunity costs (i.e., lost wages and benefits) that come from a delayed entry into the job market.

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