Financial Information
Going back to finish your degree is a big commitment. We know that time, work-load, degree quality, and knowing if we’re the right fit are all things that you are considering as you make this investment into your future.
Unlike many other large purchases, your degree will not depreciate in value and will continue to give you returns over the course of your lifetime. It can open doors and provide career opportunities long after you’ve completed it.
You’ll find that financing your degree at Judson University is quite manageable and cost effective when considering your returns.
Options for Financing:
Grants and Loans (Financial Aid)
Tuition Reimbursement
Payment Plan
Outside Scholarships
Military Benefits
Financial Aid: Grants and Student Loans
The most important thing you can do er to receive financial aid is submit the FREE Federal Application for student aid by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The best way to find out exactly how much financial aid you will be receiving is to submit the FAFSA and apply to Judson.
Your financial aid amount is determined by several factors:
1. The report we receive from FAFSA
2. The cost of earning your degree (which includes not only tuition, but also a standard estimate of indirect costs like living expenses and transportation)
3. How many credits you are transferring into Judson
4. Whether you are a full- or part-time student (all cohort students are full-time)
Grants
You do not have to repay grants (“free money”), one form of financial aid. They are based on your demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Student Loans
Subsidized Loans: These loans can be deferred while you remain a student (at least part-time status). The government pays the interest for you while they are in deferment. Subsidized loans are based on your financial need.
Unsubsidized Loans: These loans can also be deferred while you remain a part- or full-time student; however, interest will accrue at a low interest rate. Unsubsidized loans are available regardless of your financial need.
Repayment of your loans starts six months after you graduate or drop below half-time status.
We strongly recommend that you apply for financial aid regardless of your income or tuition reimbursement benefits. If something unexpected happens to your source of income or benefits, you’ll be at an advantage and minimize the risk of having to drop out of school.
NOTE: Financial aid is available for degree-seeking student
Contact us (financial aid) with any questions you may have.
Payment Plan
You may prefer using a payment plan to finance your education. This is also a good option for paying partial balances that may remain after your tuition reimbursement or financial aid is applied.
You can use our Tuition Deferment Plan (TDP) to set up monthly payments to spread your tuition balance over an entire term. There is a minimal charge, but you won’t be charged interest on your balance.
Contact us (student accounts) with any questions you may have, or see the adult undergraduate catalog for detailed information.
Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Check with your employer to see if they offer some form of tuition reimbursement or assistance with your education. Many students are surprised to learn that their organization has this type of assistance.
You can also use our payment plan option if your employer offers reimbursement based on your grade or completion of the course. In most cases, we can work with your company or organization to set up a plan to pay us directly so you do not have to worry about out-of pocket expenses.
We strongly recommend that you apply for financial aid regardless of your income or tuition reimbursement benefits. If something unexpected happens to your source of income or benefits, you’ll be at an advantage and minimize the risk of having to drop out of school.
Contact us (student accounts) with any questions you may have, or see the adult undergraduate catalog for detailed information.
Military Benefits
If you served in the military, you may be eligible for financial assistance as part of your ongoing benefits. If you have the GI Bill available to you, it can be applied to your tuition. Unfortunately, the Illinois Veteran’s Grant can only be applied to state schools, so it cannot be used at Judson University.
Outside Scholarships
Because of the discounted tuition students receive in their cohort courses, Judson University scholarships are not available for our Adult Undergraduate students. However, there are many private scholarships that go unclaimed and unused. If you receive a private scholarship, you can apply it to your Judson account.
Here are some resources you can research:
www.fastweb.com
www.scholarships.com
www.scholarshipexperts.com
www.finaid.org
www.petersons.com/finaid
www.collegeboard.com
www.absolutelyscholarships.com
www.collegescholarships.com
www.Moneycentralmsn.com/family/home.asp
Additional Loan Sources
Besides student loans sponsored by the federal government, private sources offer educational loans. Because of the interest and deferment benefits offered by federal loans, we strongly recommend you maximize these sources before turning to private sources.
You can learn more about these at:
Sallie Mae: www.salliemae.com/im_applying/undergrad_student_choice.htm
Key Loan: www.key.com/alternative
Local Banks may also provide educational loans.
Tuition
We know that cost can be a big factor when you’re deciding on a college program. You’ll find that our tuition is highly competitive with similar programs.
With the combination of financial aid options, you’ll find this investment into your continued education very manageable. You may also notice that the tuition is discounted from what a traditional student may pay. This is because of the convenient pre-planned cohort format and the fact that you are not subsidizing traditional student programs, such as sports, social events, or clubs.
What also sets us apart from similar programs is the tuition-free credits and the free textbooks we provide when you are in one of our cohort programs.
Your tuition will vary according to the options you choose when completing your degree. All students take the Becoming a Successful Student course and a major cohort, but choose a variety of ways to complete their other graduation requirements. Download the Financial Information Fee Sheet to see the tuition breakdowns for the different programs.