Breaking Barriers to a Top-Ranked Education
Mills Reduces Undergraduate Tuition by 36%.
Mills was founded in 1852 to provide educational opportunities to women, defying the convention of the time. Today, we are breaking barriers again by dramatically lowering our undergraduate tuition beginning in fall 2018. Our goal is to provide access to students of all backgrounds so they can experience a life-changing education that prepares them to be leaders in their careers and communities.

A Top-Ranked Mills Education is Within Your Reach.
Beginning in fall 2018, we are reducing our undergraduate tuition by 36% for new and continuing undergraduate students. Students will still have the opportunity to receive merit scholarships and need-based financial aid.

Mills Stands Out as One of the Best in the West.
Mills has been consistently named a top 5 best value college by U.S. News & World Report based on our high academic quality relative to the net cost of our tuition. Reducing our undergraduate tuition upfront will make it easier for students and families to see that a Mills education is accessible.

We Offer an Education that Can Change Your Life.
Mills students reap the benefits of small classes, individual attention from renowned faculty, and one-of-a-kind creative, research, and leadership opportunities. That's why we always rank as one of the top 10 regional universities in the West by U.S. News & World Report and one of The 384 Best Colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review.

Our Graduates Demonstrate the Value of a Mills Degree.
At Mills, students gain the confidence and the competence to succeed in any field. Our graduates pursue master's and doctoral degrees at prestigious universities around the world, lead innovative nonprofits and socially responsible businesses, and push boundaries in the arts and sciences.
Frequently Asked Questions
The rising cost of college is a national concern. While students and families agree that a college education is an investment in the future, they are confused by how much college will actually cost. Colleges set high tuition rates which are then significantly discounted by scholarships and financial aid. This sets up an unnecessary barrier for many students and prevents them from exploring all of their college choices. In fact, according to a 2017 study conducted by Sallie Mae, seven out of 10 families eliminated colleges from consideration due to cost concerns during their search and selection process.
Mills wants to break this barrier that prevents students from considering an education at a top private liberal arts college. By resetting the cost of our undergraduate tuition, as well as bringing more transparency to the pricing structure upfront, we intend to demonstrate that a life-changing Mills education is not exclusive to only a few, but is accessible and affordable to all academically qualified students.
Through the tuition reset, Mills will be reducing our undergraduate tuition by 36 percent, lowering it from $44,765 to $28,765 beginning fall 2018. Students receiving financial aid will see adjustments to correspond with the tuition reduction, but all will see their bottom-line tuition costs reduced. Returning Mills undergraduates will not pay more tuition in 2018–19 than they did in 2017-18.
Prior to the tuition reset, Mills’ annual tuition increases were projected to be three percent each year. However, in the 2018–19 academic year when the new tuition takes effect, students will see a much lower tuition cost and what they pay will be the same, or less, than in 2017–18. Annual tuition increases in subsequent years will be set from the lower base tuition rate, making tuition increases smaller, resulting in actual savings to all enrolled students.
Mills was founded in 1852 to educate women, breaking a barrier that prevented many from pursuing a college degree. We’ve continued that tradition with groundbreaking initiatives in academic programs and in our recent transgender and gender-nonconforming admissions policy. We’ve made SAT/ACT test scores optional to remove another roadblock to higher education and are a Hispanic-serving institution, reflecting the diversity of our California home.
Mills welcomes students of all backgrounds and all ages—from first-generation students to transfer students to parents resuming their education. As one of the most diverse and progressive liberal arts colleges in the country, being at the forefront of increasing student access to higher education is central to our mission.
Be Empowered for Success.
Mills students graduate with the skills, experience, and drive to create their own unique path. Equipped with the ability to think creatively and lead collaboratively, our alumnae are change makers, risk takers, and innovators who are making a statement around the globe. Read some of their inspiring stories.


