2008-09 Tuition and Fees

*See respective graduate program office for current tuition rates.

Living expenses, books and supplies, personal expenses, practicum and internship expenses, travel, class fees and miscellaneous expenses are the responsibility of the student.

Payment and Payment Plans

All charges are due and payable at registration for the semester or individual course. Arrangements for payment in advance of the beginning of courses can be made by calling the university business office at (540) 432-4112. There is a monthly finance charge of 1.5% (18% annually) on past-due balances. EMU accepts personal checks, cashiers checks and money orders.

A monthly payment plan with Tuition Management Systems, Inc. (TMS) is available. Please contact the Business Office at 1-888-432-4112 for further information prior to setting up any payment plan. Brochures are available in the Students Accounts Office.

Eastern Mennonite University will not release grades, transcripts, diplomas or teaching licenses until all accounts are settled.

Please be aware that unpaid accounts will go before a review committee. If payment is not received, it will be necessary to cancel the student registration; attendance in classes will not be permitted.

Failure to meet financial obligations is cause for denying the student the privilege of registering for or attending subsequent classes, receiving a degree, or releasing grades or a transcript of credit. Collection costs or charges along with all attorney fees necessary for the collection of any debt to the university will be charged to and paid by the debtor. All accounts in collection are reported to the credit bureau.

EMU Credit Card Acceptance Policy

Tuition and Rent Accounts: EMU accepts major credit cards (except VISA) via Tuition Management Systems for a convenience fee per transaction. To make a payment, visit their website at www.afford.com or call 800-722-4867. (Depending on amount charged, convenience fee typically amounts to 2-4%.)

Miscellaneous Account: EMU accepts VISA, MasterCard, and Discover payments directly. EMU has determined that the cost of accepting credit card payments for tuition and major fees is an expense that we can no longer support.

Financial Assistance

The financial assistance office, located on the first floor of the campus center, coordinates student financial aid programs including scholarships, grants, employment and loans. Additionally, each graduate program office may have information about "outside" sources of aid related to the program. The financial assistance office staff helps graduate students with the application process as well as financial planning.

Available aid for graduate students may include the following programs for those who qualify:

• Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant -- for full-time Virginia residents in standard semester programs. Application required; deadline July 31; not available for "religious training" programs.
• Church Matching Grant (not available for all graduate programs) -- for students who receive financial support from a church that has a grant or scholarship program; must be at least half-time enrolled. Application required; preferred response date March 1. $1,000 per year with $2,000 career maximum.
• Institutional Scholarship/Grant -- recipients selected by each graduate program; awarded if funding is available and student meets criteria; applications may be required.
• Federal Work-Study -- on campus (or approved off campus) employment offered to federal aid applicants who are eligible and who secure a position; limited eligibility and pay rates apply. FAFSA and Student Employment Application required; preferred response date April 15.
• Federal Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) -- low interest student loans offered by the government to US Citizens or eligible non citizens; annual maximum $20,500; eligibility based on "financial need" as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); must be at least half-time or more enrolled. FAFSA and EMU Financial Aid Information Sheet required; preferred response date April 15.
• Federal Graduate PLUS Loan - non-subsidized, credit-based, fixed-interest rate loan for graduate students; repayment begins 60 days after final disbursement; in school deferrment available for halftime enrolled students, but interest is due. Eligibility determined after federal subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans have been awarded (FAFSA required); however, the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans may be declined and only the Graduate PLUS Loan borrowed.

If a student applies for and is determined eligible for any financial aid, an award letter will be sent to notify the student of eligibility. Additional required forms will be included with the award letter. Stafford Loan borrowers must complete a Loan Request Form for each period of enrollment.

Stafford Loans must be repaid after graduating from a program or when enrollment status is less than half time. The monthly repayment amount is based on the loan volume, current interest rate and length of repayment schedule. Repayment may be deferred for internships, fellowships, economic hardship, unemployment, half-time or more enrollment, etc. Consolidation of graduate loans with prior loans may be advantageous to borrower. More information about repayment is available from the financial assistance office.

Aid recipients who change their course registration after the beginning of each semester must notify the financial assistance office. Enrollment status is very important to aid eligibility. Students who withdraw must also notify the financial assistance office. Financial aid refunds due to withdrawal are calculated using the percentage of term not completed as mandated by federal aid regulations. More information about aid adjustments and refunds related to changes in enrollment status may be obtained from the Financial Assistance Office.

Contact the Financial Assistance Office at (800) 330-9683 or (540) 432-4137 or email finaid@emu.edu.