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 are charged per credit, not under block tuition. Tuition rates and the number of credits required vary across programs. To find this information for your program of interest, please visit acu.edu/grad.

Scholarships

All ACU on-campus graduate programs offer academic scholarships or tuition discounts. These awards are typically based on the strength of your graduate application. We encourage you to apply for external scholarships and grants. Professional organizations and accrediting bodies associated with your program are a great place to start, as they often post industry-specific scholarship and grant opportunities. Watch out for scams! Never pay to apply for a scholarship or grants.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships (GA) are available in many ACU graduate programs and are offered on a competitive basis. Each program has its own requirements and expectations for GA positions. Some GAs receive a scholarship, while others receive a monthly living stipend or hourly pay. You’ll find additional student employment opportunities across campus here: acu.edu/jobs.

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.

Federal Direct Loan

The Federal Direct Loan helps students pay for a portion of their graduate education. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education, rather than a bank or private loan company. Visit studentaid.gov/fafsa and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to get started. Be sure to list ACU as one of your receiving schools (school code 003537).

College Access Loan

After submitting the FAFSA, Texas residents can apply for the College Access Loan (CAL) to help with grad school expenses. CAL is a state loan program. Visit hhloans.com for more information. A co-signer might be required depending on student credit score. If approved, the final loan amount is based on your program of study and your existing loan debt.

Private Loan

Private loans come from sources such as a bank or private lending company. Some private lenders require a co-signer, while others do not. ACU will certify private loans for any lender you choose. You will find a preferred private lender list at acu.edu/loans.

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).

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

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).