Many colleges and universities are working on ways to encourage students to graduate in four years. Marymount California
University, Rancho Palos Verdes, has come up with a pretty unique enticement.
The school partnered with a local car dealership to
allow incoming freshmen to purchase new Mini Cooper automobiles at fleet
pricing. Students have to make the first four years of payments, but if they
graduate on time, the university will make the fifth and final year of payments,
up to $5,000.
“Our
students will commute to and from our campuses, drive to their internships, and
explore the abundance of beauty, culture, and fun that Southern California has
to offer,” said Marymount President Lucas Lamadrid. “And our graduates who
participate in the My Marymount Mini will have a reliable and ‘cool’ car that’s
fully paid for to drive to their first job after college.”