Graduate Financial Aid

We aim to reduce the potential financial burden of graduate school through a robust program of financial aid that prioritizes your learning and prepares you to thrive. Graduate financial aid opportunities include loans, on-campus employment and the Wildcat Pay Plan. You may also be eligible to apply for scholarships and assistantship roles within your program.
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We aim to reduce the potential financial burden of graduate school through a robust program of financial aid that prioritizes your learning and prepares you to thrive. Graduate financial aid opportunities include loans, on-campus employment and the Wildcat Pay Plan. You may also be eligible to apply for scholarships and assistantship roles within your program.

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You are making a significant investment in your graduate education—and we want to support you in that every step of the way. With the guidance of the Graduate Programs team, we’ll define your goals and navigate the best aid opportunities to help you achieve them.

Cost

ACU graduate students pay per credit hour, not according to block tuition. Tuition rates and the number of credit hours required vary across programs. To find this information for your program of interest, please visit acu.edu/grad.

Scholarships

Your graduate program at ACU will offer unique scholarships tailored to your talents and accomplishments. Additional scholarship opportunities are available through outside professional organizations and accrediting bodies. Learn more about scholarship opportunities for graduate students.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships (GA) are available in many departments at ACU, on a competitive basis. Each department has its own requirements and expectations for GA positions; however, most GAs include a scholarship and monthly living stipend. The amount of the award varies by department and often covers a generous portion of tuition.

Wildcat Pay Plan

You can pay your tuition bill throughout the year at zero percent interest using our Wildcat Pay Plan. Enroll with a $50 fee per semester and then divide your educational costs across as many as six monthly payments.

Employment

As a graduate student at ACU, you are eligible to apply for on-campus student employment in various departments and offices on campus. ACU pays students through direct deposit, and funds can be used to offset educational costs or to help cover living expenses. Visit acu.edu/about/careers to view current openings.

Federal Loans

Federal Loans are low-interest loans for students to pay for the cost of a graduate education. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education, rather than a private bank. The vast majority of graduate students utilize the Federal Loan Program to help pay for tuition (and living expenses, if needed).

Direct Loan

The loan application process is simple and will not require the financial information of your parents. Visit fafsa.ed.gov and complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) to get started. Be sure to list ACU as one of your receiving schools (School code 003537).

Plus Loan

If additional funds are needed beyond the FAFSA (Direct Loan), consider applying for the Federal Plus Loan to cover remaining tuition costs and living expenses.

Students wanting a PLUS Loan for the 22/23 school year should wait until June 1st, 2022 to apply. By then, the 22/23 application window should be open on studentaid.gov.

Private Loans

Private loans are designed specifically to help you fill any gap that exists between your financial aid award, your federal loans and your total education costs. In some cases, federal loans may be more affordable than the terms of a private loan. Comparison shopping is recommended. As part of Abilene Christian University’s commitment to providing educational funding options to students and parents, ACU’s Office of Student Financial Services will certify private loans for any lender that a borrower chooses. To aid students and families in the process of choosing a private lender, Student Financial Services has compiled a Preferred Private Lender List.

Applying for Financial Aid

Students smiling in class

You may find tailored scholarship and graduate assistantship opportunities through your program. You can also apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) once it becomes available on October 1 (ACU school code: 003537).