Strixhaven Rules Option:
Admissions & Tuition
Proclaimed as the most elite institution of higher magical learning in the entire multiverse, Strixhaven University receives an astronomical amount of applications from prospective students every year. However, competition to get enrolled at Strixhaven is extremely fierce. Even if an applicant is admitted, the thorny issue of paying for tuition and school supplies may still weigh heavily on that student’s mind. . . .
For DMs and players who wish to add an additional complication to college and post-college life, here are some backstory and rule options for exploring in-depth how Strixhaven students can earn their way into the university, as well as how they pay for their education.
Sources of Inspiration
- Admissions. United States Military Academy West Point
- College of Wizardry. Bruce R. Cordell
- How Aid Works. Harvard College
- Magic of Faerûn. Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, & Angel McCoy
- The Complete Wizard's Handbook. Rick Swan
- The Principalities of Glantri. Bruce Heard
Admissions
Due to ever-volatile travel conditions, it is not always feasible for applicants to trek all the way to Strixhaven itself and back as part of its rigorous application process. This is doubly so in the case of students admitted from across the multiverse. Therefore, the university periodically hosts events in distant capital cities and major trading centers to drum up enrollment and facilitate certain admissions procedures.
College Fairs
About once every two years, a Strixhaven college fair takes place in a major city. This event may either be a stand-alone affair or just one of many attractions present at a festival devoted to celebrating the magical arts. For the fair’s duration, representatives from each of Strixhaven’s five colleges perform dazzling displays of magic in front of audiences.
Individuals interested in applying to Strixhaven are encouraged to connect with these representatives to learn more about Strixhaven: its admittance requirements, what degrees the university confers, student life, financial aid options, and other matters. Information pamphlets about the university are also handed out during these events.
The Application Process
To be accepted into Strixhaven University, applicants must meet at least two out of the following three requirements:
- Sponsorship. The applicant procures a letter of recommendation from a sponsor. Authorized nominating sponsors include nobles, other public officials or military officers of equivalent stature, spiritual hierarchs, and Strixhaven professors. Sponsors may vet applicants extensively to determine who is worthy of sponsorship... or may instead cynically award them as favors for supporters who want to get their kids into Strixhaven.
- Personal Essay. The applicant writes an essay detailing their background, extracurricular pursuits, and reasons for wanting to attend Strixhaven. Any previous magical training an applicant has received is to be detailed in this essay, along with any requests for financial aid.
- Entrance Examination. The applicant must pass an entrance exam which tests their academic and magical aptitude. These assessments are administered by proctors either at the campus itself or sent out elsewhere.
An admissions review panel back in Strixhaven uses the above criteria in selecting who is to be admitted. All decisions are unanimous; a single vote of dissent is enough to disqualify an applicant. Indeed, only a tenth of applicants are granted admission into the prestigious university. While officials maintain the importance of maintaining strict standards on who is admitted into Strixhaven, critics frequently accuse the application process of being rife with favoritism and of placing unnecessary roadblocks to more disadvantaged applicants.
Running the Application Process
Although it is not recommended to use the application process to bar characters from participating in a Strixhaven campaign, DMs may choose to use modified versions of the Exam rules in the Strixhaven module as a way to give characters a potential bonus when seeking out financial aid.
Unlike regular Exams, the Testing phase of the applications process consists of two DC 11 ability checks of the character's choice. A character might focus on studying to earn good results on their entrance exams, or may instead concentrate on penning a remarkable essay or getting a sponsor's endorsement.
Eligible ability checks that can be used when applying to Strixhaven are listed below:
- Intelligence. Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion
- Wisdom. Animal Handling, Medicine, or Survival
- Charisma. Deception, Performance, or Persuasion
Each successful ability check earns a character one Student Die that can be expended while seeking financial aid. At the end of Session Zero, players lose any unexpended Student Dice their characters have earned from the application process.
Admissions & Character Creation
As a DM, you have final say in determining whether a player’s character concept suits your Strixhaven campaign. If you believe that a character is a poor fit, explain to the player that their student needs to be someone who can plausibly gain admission into the university. If possible, work with the player to either make the problematic character a better fit or allow them to gain admittance via illegitimate means, which may involve cronyism or lying during the application process.
While it isn't necessary by any means to make players write out an entire admissions essay, encouraging them to reflect in general terms about what character applicants would write about is one way to help your players develop their characters.
Why Study at Strixhaven?
A degree from Strixhaven University is a highly sought-out qualification in realms which place great value on magical mastery. The university's name commands respect in all corners of the multiverse; any student who graduates from one of Strixhaven's colleges will reap the benefit of multiple job opportunities opening up to them. Certain exclusive doors will in fact remain shut to anybody without a Strixhaven diploma, regardless of the quality of their alternative magic education.
As for more unorthodox students who won’t directly benefit as much from a diploma, they too may have ample reason to attend Strixhaven if they crave any knowledge of the arcane or the multiverse, for the university's scholastic resources are second to none. Due to its prestige, Strixhaven is also involved in numerous cultural and student exchange programs. The school takes great pride in not only offering hospitality to the best and brightest of the multiverse, but also in turn being able to give its own students a chance to travel abroad and study the wonders of magic.
Tuition
Like most other academic institutions of its pedigree, Strixhaven University charges students tuition to attend. A student’s tuition covers class enrollment fees, textbook costs, Biblioplex access, and living expenses for modest room and board. Tuition is paid on an annual basis, and is due the day classes begin. Costs for miscellaneous supplies such as paper, ink, and spell components are not covered by tuition.
Each academic year costs 800 gp, covering a time period of eight months. Over the course of four years, an undergraduate student can be expected to sink 3,200 gp into tuition costs. Again, this amount does not take personal supplies into account.
First-Year Starting Costs
In the interest of player convenience, assume that tuition and school supplies for the first year are already paid for at the start of a Strixhaven campaign.
Financial Aid
Strixhaven’s financial donors and administrative staff are cognizant of the dangers of letting students fall dangerously into debt. Realms and even entire worlds have fallen into chaos due to scores of destitute mage-graduates fanning the flames of discontent, turning to crime, or making deals with vile fiends in order to wipe away their debts.
Thankfully, the vast financial resources at the university’s disposal gives students a wide array of options to pay off their debts. All applicants are encouraged to pursue any avenue of relief that is available to them.
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded to students who show immense academic potential. Students who earn a scholarship have all tuition costs paid for, and also receive an extra 800 gp to pay for miscellaneous expenses. This stipend does not have to be repaid, nor is the student compelled to provide any service to the university after graduation.
Only a very limited amount of scholarships are handed out to each graduating class. To qualify for a scholarship, a character must succeed on a DC 17 ability check which is appropriate for that character's academic aspirations. A character can expend a Student Die to add its result to the roll. This roll is also made with advantage if the character belongs to a class with the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature.
Should a character on a scholarship perform poorly on two consecutive Exams, they are forced to make this ability check again or risk losing their scholarship. On a failed check, the character is forced to return all unspent money, and is barred from reapplying for another scholarship.
Grants
Grants are awarded based on a student’s economic circumstances, and can also be provided by authorized sponsors other than the university itself. Like scholarships, grants pay for all tuition costs plus an extra 800 gp; none of which requires financial repayment.
To qualify for a grant, a character must succeed on an appropriate DC 13 ability check of their choice. A character can expend a Student Die to add its result to the roll. This roll is made with advantage if the student comes from a less-than-comfortable economic background (refer to the "Lifestyle Expenses" section in the Player's Handbook).
Unlike scholarships, most grants require a minimum of four years of service upon graduation from Strixhaven. This usually entails working for whichever sponsoring institution or patron provides the grant.
Unaffiliated Sponsors
In addition to authorized sponsors, a student may choose to seek patronage from other sources. Students from wealthy or aristocratic backgrounds for example likely enjoy financial support from their families. Those who are less economically well-off may have instead caught the eye of a generous donor.
Due to the unofficial nature of such sponsorships however, students have little recourse should access to funds be cut off. Additionally, a patron may have ulterior motives for providing sponsorship which risk ensnaring a character in nefarious intrigues.
Adventuring Gigs
Researchers and other Strixhaven-affiliated professionals are always in need of lowly temporary assistants to handle dirty work. In cases where that dirty work is quite hazardous, people tend not to apply unless suitable incentives are provided. In the case of university students, the most popular incentive is often the waiving of all tuition fees for the following academic year. High-risk gigs (along with field study programs) are also desired as a source of valuable career-building experience.
Most characters signing up for a high-risk adventuring gig typically undertake a research quest when school’s out of session in-between academic years; a period lasting four months. Characters may also be recruited to serve as part-time campus security or even debt collectors.
Student Loans
If a student is unable to acquire the aforementioned methods of relief or experiences a sudden shortfall of funds, the university may allow that person to take out a loan. As the arcane professions (especially those involving adventuring) are regarded as high-risk high-reward careers, there is always the unfortunate possibility that a Strixhaven graduate ends up killed or maimed before fully paying off their loan.
To ensure as much of a return on investment as possible, the typical interest rate for a mage-student loan is around 25%, to be paid off in monthly installments over the course of 30 years. If a character misses a loan payment, a fee is charged for each day the payment is late. All loan payments are deferred until the character either graduates from Strixhaven or withdraws from the university.
How much a character receives in loan money is negotiable based on their ability to pay back interest. A character who applies for a loan must make a Charisma (Persuasion or Deception) ability check, and can expend a Student Die to add its result to the roll if appropriate. This roll is made with advantage if the character has an on-campus Job.
On a successful ability check, the character receives the loan amount they asked for. On a failure, a character may still qualify for a reduced amount if their result equals or exceeds the threshold of a lower DC.
The Available Loans table below shows the DC thresholds for qualifying for common loan amounts.
Available Loans
| DC | Loan Amount | Monthly Installment | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1,000 gp | 20 gp | 1 gp |
| 12 | 2,000 gp | 40 gp | 2 gp |
| 15 | 4,000 gp | 80 gp | 4 gp |
Image Credits
- D&D Watercolor Stains. Jared Ondricek (watercolors.giantsoup.com)
- Reject. Zoltan Boros (artofmtg.com)
- First-Years in Uniform. Wizards of the Coast Concept Artists (magic.wizards.com)
