This is an investment in your future. Whether your goal is to set an example for your own family, advance your career or prepare to change jobs, we are committed to making Carson-Newman affordable for you. Our Financial Aid Office is here to guide you through all of the possibilities for exploring financial aid.
Students must first apply and be accepted for admission in a degree-seeking program before consideration for financial aid will be given. Graduate certificate programs are not eligible for federal financial assistance at this time. Additionally, students that are provisionally admitted into a graduate degree program will have aid awarded up until the provisional allowance of credits have been attempted, and therefore must be fully admitted beyond the allowance of credits on provisional status to continue receiving aid. All classes and coursework must be required for the degree for federal aid eligibility.
Payment is due on or before final registration confirmation. Graduate tuition and fees remain the same throughout the year. All fees and charges are subject to change.
GRADUATE & ADULT PROGRAMS
First Step. To be considered for federal financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the year you intend to enroll. Use Carson-Newman’s FAFSA code: 003481. You will be instructed to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to log in, if you don’t already have one.
Award Notification. Once you have completed the FAFSA and have been accepted into your program, we will review your information and offer all available aid. You will receive an award notification email that details aid eligibility as well as estimated charges. You will be granted access to our system, and your financial information will also be available via C-N Connect. You will be able to accept or reject your aid or make adjustments to your loan amount. You will need to carry at least 4.5 credit hours applicable to your degree program each fall 2021, spring 2022, and Summer 2022 to be considered for aid. No aid is automatically renewable. Complete the FAFSA each academic year to be considered for aid renewal. The FAFSA is available beginning October 1st for each new upcoming academic year, which begins with the next fall semester.
Stafford Loans. If you plan to accept Stafford Loans, visit the federal student loans website to complete Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you have previously borrowed through the Federal Direct Stafford program, you may only need to add C-N to your entrance counseling. If you plan to accept the TEACH Grant, you will need to complete the Entrance Counseling and Agreement to Serve (ATS). For more information, visit Federal Student Aid.
Want to avoid student loans? Our payment plans help reduce up-front costs. Enrolling in a payment plan allows you to make monthly payments on your direct charges instead of paying your full balance before classes start. For more information about a payment plan, visit Tuition Assistant.
Federal Work Study: Must file FAFSA and prove demonstrated need with a desire to work on campus part-time by answering yes to FWS interest question on FAFSA. May be used toward tuition or indirect cost. More information is available through our Student Employment page. Estimated earnings range from $400-$2,000, which is based on minimum wage and the number of hours worked. Federal Work Study students are paid monthly.
Federal Perkins Loan: No longer available.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan: Repayment of principle begins six months after student falls below half-time enrollment and requires Master Promissory Note (MPN), entrance counseling and enrollment of at least half-time. Earnings can reach up to $20,500 but cannot exceed actual cost of attendance, which is estimated at $19,000 for most programs. The aggregate limit is $138,500 with no more than $65,500 in subsidized loans from prior borrowing. The aggregate limit includes all federal loans received from other enrollment such as an undergraduate and/or masters degree(s).
Minority Teaching Fellows Program: To be eligible, the applicant must:
The application process consists of a 250-word essay on “Why I Chose Teaching as a Profession”, letters of recommendation from a school official an individual from the applicant’s community attesting to the student’s commitment to teaching, a list of extracurricular and leadership activities and all official college transcripts. Applications are available via the TSAC Student Portal. Awards are highly competitive and based on funding. Renewal applicants are given first priority. TSAC must receive the completed application and required attachments by April 15.
Graduate Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program: To be eligible, the applicant must:
Students participating in the Graduate Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program may not participate in any other loan forgiveness programs, including federal, private or institutional. Once the program is completed, the loan(s) cannot be combined to existing federal student loans the applicant may have received for the purpose of repayment.
Federal TEACH Grant: Students enrolled in an eligible program meeting the academic qualifications, who intend to teach in a high-need subject area at schools that serve students from low-income families and requires teaching obligation or grant converts to an unsubsidized loan, retroactive with interest. Earnings reach up to $4,000 per year for full-time enrollment, with prorated awards for less than full-time.
Private/Alternative Loans: Alternative loans are made through private lenders (e.g. banks) and are not part of the federal loan program. Carson-Newman encourages students to look into federal loan programs before applying for a private loan. If you are ineligible for federal loans or you have exhausted government sources, private loans can help offset the difference between your educational expenses and loans. There are many private loan options. It is to your benefit to research and find the loan that best meets your needs. The lender has final approval for alternative loans, rather than C-N. Private loan amounts vary and cannot exceed the cost of attendance for the program. Credit approval is required.
