- Student Funding - Payment of Tuition and Fees
- Financial Aid
- Student Aid Programs
- Federal Work-Study Program (campus-based only)
- Institutional Loans or Payment Plans*
- Credit Balances, Stipends, and Overpayments
Student Funding - Payment of Tuition and Fees
Students are required to meet with our Financial Aid Office staff to develop a Stinger Student Financial Plan (SSFP) to determine how the student will fund the cost of their educational program. South University utilizes numerous funding sources to assist students with financing their educational goals. Eligible students may utilize:
- 529 Plans
- Cash/Savings
- Outside Grants and Scholarships
- Institutional Grants
- Corporate Educational Partnerships* or Employer Tuition Assistance Programs
- Federal Student Aid (Federal Grants, Federal Work Study, or Direct Loans)
- State Grants or Loans (if applicable based on the student’s state of residence)
- Military Benefits
- External Loans
- Institutional Loan (SEAL – South Education Assistance Loan)
- Cash Payment Plan refers to student payments intended to cover the gap between the cost of the student’s educational goals and their financial aid eligibility.
Students are responsible for reviewing and understanding initial and continued eligibility requirements of each fund source, as well repayment requirements or consequences of non-payment. Students who fail to adhere to the requirements may lose eligibility for a funding method or may experience financial aid holds (failure to provide all requested and required financial aid documentation timely) or registration holds due to student account balances as outlined in our student funding policy. Please refer to our Student Consumer Information (linked on our home page).
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to those who quality. Financial aid may consist of federal or state funding, military benefits, cash, outside grants or scholarships, institutional grants, outside loan sources, tuition reimbursement, payment plans, or corporate educational fund sources. It is defined as economic assistance available to help students meet the difference between what they can afford to pay and what it actually costs them to go to school. Financial Aid sources generally have initial and continued eligibility requirements.
A Stinger Student Financial Plan (SSFP) is created based on each student’s individual situation and eligibility.
A student's ability to contribute to the cost of his or her education is determined by the US Department of Education once the student completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The US Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS) will perform a needs analysis based on the data the student/parent provided and generate an Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) which will contain a Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI determines what federal student aid a student may be eligible for. The needs analysis is a consistent, systematic way of measuring the ability of a student/parents to pay for educational costs and the student’s eligibility to receive funds from federal programs. It determines the ability, not the willingness, of a student or family to finance the student's education.
Prospective students who have applied for admission to the University and completed the FAFSA (listing South University’s school code) meets with the Financial Aid Office for a personalized appointment and the determination and review of the SSFP.
Student Aid Programs
South University participates in several student aid programs. A brief description of each follows.
Grants | |
| Alabama Student Grant (ASG) (Montgomery campus only) | This Alabama grant program is available to students who are Alabama residents and who are enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate program of study. Applications are available in the financial aid office. (Montgomery campus only) |
| Alabama Student Assistance Grant Program (ASAP) (Montgomery campus only) | This Alabama grant program provides additional funds to Alabama residents with exceptional need and is awarded by the financial aid office to eligible students who are enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate program of study and have a federal expected family contribution (EFC) of zero. (Montgomery campus only) |
| Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program (ANGEAP) | This Alabama grant program is available to Alabama National Guard members. Students submit an application to the Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program Office before August 1st of the academic year for which grant funds are being requested. Students may obtain applications through the financial aid office or the ANGEAP office. (Montgomery campus only) |
| William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) | This Florida grant program is available to full time undergraduate students who are Florida residents and working towards their first degree. (Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach campuses only) |
| Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) | (Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach campuses only) |
| Federal Pell Grant Program | Federal Pell Grants are based on financial need, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. To be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, students must: make application each year by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); prove U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status; be able to show graduation from high school or its equivalency; not owe a refund on a federal grant nor be in default on a federal loan; and maintain satisfactory academic progress in school. |
| Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG) | Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are for students who demonstrate exceptional financial need (with priority given to Pell Grant recipients). There are a limited number of awards available each year so early application is encouraged. This typically does not have to be repaid. |
| Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant | The Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) entitles qualified Georgia residents who are full-time students to a tuition grant without respect to age, income, or academic standing. Applications are available from the financial aid office. (Savannah campus and online Georgia residents only) |
| South University’s Institutional Grants | For more information contact the Financial Aid Office. |
Loans | |
| Federal Direct Subsidized Loan | The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is a fixed interest loan available to students through the federal government. The interest is subsidized by the federal government. To be eligible, a student must be a citizen or permanent resident alien of the United States and meet other eligibility requirements. Repayment of the loan begins six (6) months after the student' drops below half time enrollment. |
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan | The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a fixed interest loan available to students through the Federal Government. The interest is not subsidized by the federal government and begins accruing on the date of disbursement. Students may either pay this interest as it becomes due or let it capitalize on the original loan amount which will increase the overall amount to be repaid by the student. The Unsubsidized Loan repayment begins six (6) months after the student drops below half time enrollment. Dependent students who do not meet the need requirements for a Subsidized Loan will be eligible for unsubsidized loans. Students whose parents are denied a PLUS Loan, may also apply for additional unsubsidized loan amounts, based on the student's grade level. Please refer to a Student Financial Services professional for additional information. |
| Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Loan Program | The Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students is a fixed interest loan available to parents through the Federal Government. The PLUS loan is a credit-based loan available to parents of dependent students. The PLUS loan repayment begins 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed. |
| Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan | This loan is for graduate students. The student must have a good credit history. The interest on this loan is not subsidized. Plus Loan Borrowing Limits: Parents or graduate students may borrow up to the full cost of attendance minus any financial aid the student receives. |
For Washington State residents seeking information and resources about student loan repayment or seeking to submit a complaint relating to your student loans or student loan servicer, please visit www.wsac.wa.gov/loan- advocacy or contact the Student Loan Advocate at loanadvocate@wsac.wa.gov. | |
Scholarships | |
| Georgia HOPE Scholarship | This scholarship is available to qualified Georgia residents who graduated from high school in 1996 or later with a minimum 3.00 grade point average. Additional information about eligibility is available from the financial aid or registrar's office. (Savannah campus and online Georgia residents only) |
| Georgia Zell Miller Scholarship | This scholarship is available to qualified Georgia residents who meet the eligibility criteria. Information about eligibility requirements is available from the financial aid office. (Savannah campus and online Georgia residents only) |
| Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program | This scholarship program is available to students who have applied before their graduation from high school or GED and are currently enrolled at the University and meet the scholarship criteria. (Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach campuses only) |
| South Carolina HOPE Scholarship ( | This scholarship is available to qualified South Carolina residents who graduated from high school in 2002 or later with a minimum of a 3.00 grade point average. Additional information about eligibility is available from the financial aid office. (Columbia campus only) |
| South Carolina LIFE Scholarship | This scholarship is available to qualified South Carolina residents who meet the eligibility criteria. Information about eligibility requirements is available from the financial aid office. (Columbia campus only) |
Federal Work-Study Program (campus-based only)
Through the Federal Work-Study program, students have the opportunity to meet part of their expenses by working part-time on or off campus. Students can earn at least minimum wage, and possibly higher for specific positions. A limited number of assignments are available, with priority given to students with the greatest need, as determined by the results of the FAFSA. The Student Financial Services Department has more details. The maximum students can earn through this program is the amount of their unmet need (the difference between expenses and all their resources).
Institutional Loans or Payment Plans*
South University understands that some students may experience a gap between the cost of their educational goals and their financial aid eligibility. South University allows students to select the South Educational Assistance Loan (SEAL) with payments over the life of the program (or extended beyond graduation) with 0% interest**.
South University understands that the amount of some student’s gap could fluctuate due to changes in the student’s eligibility for aid or changes in the student’s schedule. In the instance where the student’s original SSFP no longer covers the entire cost of his/her educational goals, the student should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss the situation and see what options are available.
Students electing to use institutional funding options are required to adhere to the payment plan/payment arrangements and make timely, on time payments. Failure to adhere to the payment plans may result in the student being placed in a financial or registration hold which may prevent the student from continuing classes until the account is current. Students experiencing issues should contact the Financial Aid Office or Student Accounting to discuss the situation and see what options are available to prevent the hold on their account.
*Residents of Colorado are not eligible to participate in the SEAL program.
**Late fees will apply to late payments
Credit Balances, Stipends, and Overpayments
In some instances, students may receive financial aid in excess of the cost of the educational program, which results in a credit balance on the student’s account. Credit balances may or may not result in South University returning the funds to the student in the form of a stipend.
When total Federal Student Aid (Title IV funds) for an actively enrolled student exceeds charges for tuition and mandatory fees within the loan period, South University will issue the credit to the student in the form of a stipend within 14 calendar days from the date the credit is created.
For external funds such as state grants, state loans, outside grants or scholarships, South University will issue the credit to the student in the form of a stipend within 30 calendar days from the date the credit is created according to the terms of the fund source
For institutional grants (excluding the Military Tuition Grant) awarded to undergraduate students that create a credit balance on the account, South University will maintain the credit balance on the account to be applied to future charges. Should a credit balance remain on the student’s account at the time of graduation, South University will issue the credit balance to the student upon completion of the student’s program. Should the student cease enrollment (through withdrawal, dismissal, attendance, etc.), any credit balance resulting from institutional grants will be returned to the grant program for future students. Please refer the specific institutional grants Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for additional information.
For institutional grants awarded to graduate students that result in a credit balance on the account, South University will issue any credit balances to the student within 30 calendar days of the creation of the credit balance, according to the terms of the fund source.
In the event the student makes an overpayment or requests a cash payment (ACH, check, or debit/credit card payment) be returned, please allow up to 30 calendar days for the funds to be returned. Please note, all funds will be returned to the original funding method upon additional verification as needed. South University may require additional verification prior to returning the funds.