Couple Gives College $121 Million on Condition Students Graduate

  • Bowling Green scholarship recipients must finish in four years
  • Project seeks to tackle low completion rates at US colleges
Bob and Ellen Thompson join Thompson scholars at an event at Bowling Green State University.
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Bob and Ellen Thompson, a couple in their 90s, are donating $121 million to expand a scholarship program at Bowling Green State University. But there are strings attached to make sure recipients earn degrees.

According to the terms, 80% of the students receiving support must graduate within four years. Otherwise, the public school in Ohio has to foot the bill for each extra semester of tuition.