Tuition for Working Adult Students

For working adult students returning to school to finish a bachelor’s or earn a master’s degree, tuition is often the biggest hurdle. In a traditional college setting, the per-semester rate often deters many from pursuing their education, especially when they have other financial obligations like a mortgage or rent and childcare.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University structures tuition for our School of Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) programs on a per-credit, course-by-course basis. This format benefits our working adult students in multiple ways. The overall cost of returning to school becomes more affordable and reflects our programs’ flexible, convenient format. If obligations allow you to take one course at a time, that amount plus fees will be all you’ll have to pay as a GPS student. As well, our working adult students are eligible for loans, grants, scholarships, and employer reimbursement programs, which lessen the total amount you’ll be expected to pay. In turn, the cost of finishing your degree won’t get in the way of your dreams.

For these reasons, Money Magazine named MVNU one of the “Best Colleges for Getting Big Scholarships” and LendEdu.com listed us as second in Ohio for lowest average student debt.

As you think about paying for tuition and seek out financial assistance, consider the following factors:

GPS Undergraduate Tuition

Undergraduate Programs	Cost per Credit Hour
Associate of Arts in General Studies	$265
Bachelor of Business Administration	$398
Bachelor of Arts in Leadership	$398
Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration	$398
Bachelor of Social Work	$350
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (P-5)	$398
RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)	$398
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry*	$398
Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Management and Homeland Security	$398

*All new Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry students receive a $300/course scholarship for the 12 core courses + $100/course scholarship for the 12 core courses plus 5 Ordination Concentration courses if enrolled in the Nazarene Ordination Concentration.

GPS Graduate Tuition

Graduate Programs	Cost per Credit Hour
Graduate Business Programs	$498
Master of Arts in Education Intervention Specialist Program (Initial License)	$498
Master of Arts in Education Intervention Specialist Program (Licensed Teachers)	$498
Master of Arts in Education (Professional Educator's License)	$498
Master of Ministry *	$498
Master of Ministry/ Master of Business Administration *	$498
Master of Science in Nursing	$498

* All new Master of Ministry students are eligible for a $5,000 scholarship.

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Additional Costs

Depending upon how you plan to take courses, working adults students attending MVNU’s GPS programs should further budget for:

Books and supplies
Personal and miscellaneous expenses
A loan fee
A technology fee
Transportation, if you plan to enroll in an on-campus program.

Financial Aid for Working Adult Students

Because of the financial and scheduling hurdles many working adult students face, MVNU offers a wealth of tuition assistance options for GPS students. It’s a false assumption that adults returning to school have fewer resources, especially as studies show that 40% of all college students are 25 years of age and older. GPS students in an undergraduate or graduate degree program may be eligible for:

Loans
Scholarships
Graduate assistantships
Grants
Tuition reimbursement from their employer.

To ensure you’re being considered for all available options, fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form with your application. Additionally, because nearly 50% of all employers offer tuition assistance, inquire with your company’s human resources department about their programs and any application and GPA requirements. MVNU further partners with select Ohio employers to offer tuition discounts.

Before you apply to GPS, learn more about financial aid solutions for working adult students.

Paying Your Tuition

Working adult students attending MVNU have options for paying program costs, depending upon if and how they receive tuition reimbursement from their employer:

Apply for financial aid first, and after MVNU informs you of your award, you’ll be responsible for paying the remaining balance.
Your employer sends a voucher or letter to MVNU’s Student Financial Services Office, and between this amount and your financial aid award, you will be responsible for the outstanding balance, which is due by the first night of each course.
If your employer bases their tuition assistance on academic performance, you’ll need to pay the remaining tuition balance within four weeks after the course ends.

Understand that if tuition is not received by these deadlines, students will not be able to attend the course and may be withdrawn. However, if a student does pay by the deadline but does not end up attending, MVNU will issue a full tuition refund. If a student decides to withdraw from MVNU, they will be billed through the last course attended.

Tuition Guarantee

Ensuring rising costs don’t make finishing your degree prohibitive, MVNU offers all GPS students a tuition guarantee. As long as you remain continuously enrolled without interruption and continue to make satisfactory academic progress, MVNU keeps the per-credit, course-by-course tuition rate consistent during your time here, without year-over-year increases.

Student Financial Agreement

Prior to enrolling at MVNU, all GPS students must complete and submit the Student Financial Agreement form. This document confirms the student understands their financial obligation, regardless of outside assistance.

If a student fails to pay their tuition:

Enrollment in the current course or semester will be terminated.
MVNU will prohibit the student from enrolling for any new courses until the outstanding balance is paid.
Interest and fees may be added to the outstanding amount, and the amount may be sent to a collection agency.
MVNU will withhold all diplomas and transcripts.

Students have the right to appeal a delinquency classification, although the Student Financial Services Office has the final say in this decision. Once the school receives the outstanding balance, all diplomas and transcripts will be released.

Learn more about all financial aid policies for GPS students.

Learn More About Tuition Rates for Working Adult Students

Do you have any questions about the tuition rates set for working adult students, financial aid policies, or related documentation? Reach out to the Financial Aid Office by email or by phone at 866-686-8243.

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