EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Next summer, Fontbonne University is closing and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is hoping attract students with a discount.

What You Need To Know

  • SIUE is waiving the $40 application fee
  • SIUE is offering a 50% tuition discount for up to six semesters for former Fontbonne students in good academic standing, starting in the Fall 2024 semester
  • Transferees recommend others to transfer to SIUE as it's been a smoother and successful transition for them

"When we learned that Fontbonne was closing, we knew many students were progressing in their education but could not complete their degrees there,” said James Monahan, SIUE Director of Graduate and International Admissions. “We aimed to streamline the admission process, waving application fees to expedite their transition. Our collaboration with the academic departments ensured that these students had a clear pathway to finish their degrees at SIUE."

SIUE is waiving the $40 application fee and offering a 50% tuition discount for up to six semesters for former Fontbonne students in good academic standing, starting in the Fall 2024 semester.

"We want to be known as a university that supports students and provides the best experience possible during challenging times."

One of the recent Fontbonne transfer students, Darren Luchetti, chose to transfer to SIUE due to it’s proximity his home in Maryville, Ill. 

“SIUE is super close to home for me. Just ten minutes away,” said Darren. “It felt right to stay close during this transition. I knew SIUE had a strong engineering program, and I felt I’d be in a good place to continue my studies.”

He’d been a baseball player for Fontbonne but due to health issues, he chose to focus on academics and transfer to SIUE. He’s studying applied mathematics, which he had been pursuing at Fontbonne. With a desire to continue to be connected to sports, he’s also a SIUE basketball team manager.

“I love basketball and wanted to stay connected to sports.”

Darren encourages others to come to SIUE, especially for those transitioning from Fontbonne. 

“It’s been super easy. Everyone I talked to at SIUE was incredibly helpful, and they answered all my questions.”

Randi Kassel also transferred to SIUE from Fontbonne while pursuing an MBA.

“I started looking into MBA programs, and SIUE offered fully virtual and accelerated classes that fit my schedule as a mom of two young girls,” said Randi. “I didn’t have many challenges because the advisors were proactive in reaching out to help, they were incredibly helpful in managing the enrollment process.”

It’s more difficult for Randi to compare the two schools since she’s an online student with SIUE. Randi is appreciative of professors' accessibilities and the virtual group projects that allow her to learn about other students' backgrounds.

While she’s sad there wont be future graduating classes from Fontbonne, she said choosing SIUE has set her up for success.

“The coursework relates to real-world situations. I often find myself applying what I learn in class to my job the very next day.”