Financial Aid, Tuition, & Fees

When students are unable to fully fund their education from personal resources, it is Columbia International University’s policy to attempt to assist them in obtaining additional financing from federal, state, institutional, and private resources to the fullest extent possible. Students who wish to be considered for aid from these sources must meet general eligibility requirements as well as fund-specific criteria. Eligibility requirements and instructions for applying are outlined below. International students are not eligible for federal or state aid but may qualify for institutional aid. The following requirements are necessary to be considered for all forms of financial assistance:

• Acceptance by the CIU Admissions office
• Completion of the FAFSA (annually) for US citizens
• Enrollment as a degree-seeking student
• Full-time enrollment for institutional aid
• Minimum half-time enrollment for Federal student loans (6 hours per semester undergraduate; 4.5 hours per semester graduate/seminary)
• Enrollment in at least 1 credit hour for Federal Pell Grant
• For federal aid, a student must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen and certify that funds will only be used for educational expenses
• Recipients of federal student loans must certify that they are not in default on any federal student loan and do not owe a repayment on a federal student grant

Federal Financial Aid

Once students submit their FAFSAs, the Financial Aid Office will send them an e-mail regarding the completion of their financial aid file. The student must respond immediately to any request for additional information or documentation. Failure to do so could cause the student to forfeit awards. Undergraduate students, if eligible, can receive federal grants, loans, and work-study. Graduate-level students, if eligible, can receive federal loans and work-study. Current information on federal aid is available online at http://www.ciu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid, or by visiting the Financial Aid Office.

Undergraduate Students

Federal Pell Grant provides need-based grants to qualifying undergraduate students. Award amounts vary depending on financial need and enrollment status.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) provides need-based grants to help the neediest undergraduate students finance the costs of postsecondary education. When making FSEOG awards (those with the lower Student Aid Index calculation), the institution must give priority to those students with “exceptional need” (those with the lowest Expected Family Contributions (EFCs) at the institution) and those who are also Federal Pell Grant recipients.

Undergraduate & Graduate-level Students

Federal Direct Loan Program
Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents available to help pay for the cost of a student’s postsecondary education. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a private lender. Eligibility for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans is based on the information reported on the FAFSA. No interest is accrued on subsidized loans while the student is enrolled at least half-time. Direct Subsidized Loan eligibility is determined by the student’s financial need and number of college credits earned. Interest accrues on unsubsidized loans after the loan is disbursed. The borrower can either chose to make interest payments while in school or allow the interest to be capitalized (added to the principal). All Direct Loans go into repayment following a one-time, six-month “grace period” after graduation or after dropping below halftime enrollment.

Undergraduate loan limits with demonstrated financial need:

Undergraduate loan limits without demonstrated financial need:

Graduate-level students may qualify for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with a maximum annual loan limit of $20,500. Graduate Level Certificate Programs are not eligible for Federal Direct Loans.

You can find more information at www.studentaid.gov and http://www.ciu.edu/federal-aid.

Loan Process for New Borrowers: If a student has been awarded and has accepted their Federal Direct Loan(s) through their electronic award letter they must complete both Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and electronically sign a Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note. Both of these forms are available at www.studentaid.gov. Once eligibility for the Federal Direct Loan(s) is verified and the University processes the Direct Loan(s) the student will receive a Loan Disclosure Statement from the Department of Education. The Disclosure Statement will include disbursement dates and loan amounts. Loan funds are applied directly to the student’s account at CIU. Please note a student must be enrolled at least half time in a degree seeking program each semester in order to be eligible for Federal Direct Loan(s).

Loan Process for Previous Borrowers: If the student has previously borrowed a Federal Direct Loan and accepts loans through their electronic award letter for the upcoming year, the loans will be processed automatically. However, if the US Department of Education is missing either the Loan Entrance Counseling or the MPN, the student will need to complete the required forms online at www.studentaid.gov prior to loan processing. Once processed, the student will receive a Loan Disclosure Statement from the Department of Education indicating disbursement dates and amounts. Once eligibility for the loan has been verified, the funds will deposit directly into student’s account at CIU.

Federal Direct ParentPLUS Loan: These loans are available to parents of dependent students enrolled as a degreeseeking student in an undergraduate program of study. Parents must submit a Direct PLUS Loan Application (which goes through a credit approval process) and a Direct Parent PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note in order to be eligible. The maximum Parent PLUS Loan amount per academic year is the estimated cost of attendance at CIU minus other student financial aid.

Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan: These loans are available to graduate level students enrolled in a program of study. Additional Grad PLUS loan counseling is required of all students borrowing this type of loan. Borrowers must pass a credit check to be eligible. The maximum loan amount per academic year is the estimated cost of attendance at CIU minus other student financial aid.

Federal Work Study

Federal Work Study (FWS) is a need-based program of financial aid providing students an opportunity to work part-time in an approved on-campus job or community service position. It provides an opportunity for students to earn money and obtain transferable skills while attending CIU. To be eligible for federal work-study, a student must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program and have documented need. “Need” is calculated based on the information submitted on the FAFSA. Please note that FWS will not be applied to your student account, and you should not include this funding when determining the amount that you will owe to CIU. If you are eligible for this federal work program, the award amount shown on your Financial Aid Award Letter is the maximum that you can earn through this work program; however, it must be earned. CIU cannot guarantee a campus job to all students. All jobs must be applied for each year. The Financial Aid Office and the Office of Career Services oversee the FWS program.

Summer Students

Summer is considered a trailer term for the current academic year. Although CIU does not offer regular scholarships during summer terms, students can be considered for federal loans if they are enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program and have not already used their annual loan eligibility for the academic year. Students can also be eligible for Federal Pell Grant funds during the summer if they are enrolled at least half-time in a degree seeking program.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Federal Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress is defined as the process of adequately proceeding toward the completion of a degree. The Financial Aid Office is required by federal regulations to ensure that students who are receiving federal and state financial aid for their education are making measurable progress toward completion of a degree in a reasonable period of time. The complete policy is available at https://www.ciu.edu/satisfactory-academic-progress-sap. For questions concerning the policy, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 803.807.5036.

South Carolina State Aid

South Carolina Scholarship Programs: The SC Commission on Higher Education administers the State’s scholarship programs. You may access information and eligibility criteria for the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, and HOPE scholarships at https://che.sc.gov/students-families-and-military/scholarships-and-grants-sc-residents.

South Carolina Tuition Grant: The SC Tuition Grant (SCTG) is made available to full-time undergraduate South Carolina residents attending private institutions in the state of South Carolina. It is based upon need and merit. Funds for this program are appropriated by the South Carolina General Assembly. To be considered for the SCTG, the FAFSA must be submitted by June 30 each year, and the student must meet SC state eligibility requirements. For more information please access the SC Tuition Grant website at https://sctuitiongrants.org/eligibility/.

CIU Institutional Aid

Columbia International University awards institutional financial aid to full-time, degree-seeking students. All awards are subject to revision. The Financial Aid Office works to determine the best overall financial aid package for each student. More details can be found at https://www.ciu.edu/undergraduate-scholarships-grants and https://www.ciu.edu/terms-and-conditions-financial-aid-awards.

CIU Grants & Scholarships

CIU students must be enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program to be eligible for CIU scholarships and grants. They must maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet CIU community standards. CIU scholarships and grants are only awarded during the Fall and Spring semesters. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of specific criteria. Students may receive only one of the following merit scholarships listed below. Each scholarship and grant has a minimum GPA requirement. In order for a CIU student to retain eligibility for institutional aid, the student must meet the following criteria:

CIU also awards endowed scholarships which have been established by and are funded through individuals, families, and institutions that are deeply committed to God’s work around the world and to the role CIU plays in training students for such work. Student recipients of these scholarships are required to provide an appropriate “thank you” letter to the donor(s). A complete list of such scholarships can be found at the end of this section.

When returning students are being reviewed for their financial aid packages for the upcoming academic year, those who fail to meet the GPA will not be awarded CIU institutional aid. GPA requirements are not reviewed in the middle of the academic year. Policy regarding institutional aid can be obtained in the Financial Aid Office or online at http://www.ciu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships-and-grants.

Consortium Agreements/Study Abroad

Institutional scholarships and grants may be awarded to students taking classes under formal consortium agreements as long as the student’s degree major or minor requires study at that outside institution. Student aid packages for those studying at other institutions will be reviewed and awarded on a case-by-case basis. Students must be in good standing and enrolled full-time in courses applicable to their degree to be considered for institutional aid. Study tours may not count towards federal, state, or CIU institutional aid eligibility requirements.

The institutional aid is limited to one semester, except in the case where two semesters are required for the degree (i.e. the Middle Eastern Studies major requiring two semesters at Jerusalem University College). Other study abroad programs, that meet graduation requirements but are not mandatory for the degree the student is currently seeking, may receive up to 50% of the student’s institutional aid. 

Education Benefits

Students receiving education benefits as an employee, dependent or spouse of a full-time CIU employee are not eligible for additional institutional aid from CIU.

Military Discount

Columbia International University offers veterans and their eligible spouses educational benefits in the form of a tuition discount. These are available to both online undergraduate and online and residential graduate veterans, active duty service members and their eligible spouses who are pursuing a certificate or degree program and are in good academic standing. Students receiving Full VA Education Benefits will not be eligible. A military discount rate of 50% will be awarded at the online undergraduate and graduate levels and a 25% discount will be awarded at the doctoral level once the student has been deemed eligible and is registered for courses for the semester. Other discounts or scholarships cannot be applied.

Partnerships

CIU has partnered with a variety of mission agencies, businesses, churches and schools to offer a tuition discount to eligible students for any course. To view a list of our eligible partner organizations, please visit http://www.ciu.edu/partnerships.

Other Information

Outside Scholarships

Thousands of scholarships are offered each year through private foundations and civic organizations. Students are encouraged to visit https://ciu.edu/outside-scholarships for links to scholarship search websites.

Veteran’s Benefits

CIU will process Veteran’s Administration Education Benefits for eligible students. Visit www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/ for eligibility information and forms. Also visit Columbia International University’s veteran’s website at http://www.ciu.edu/veterans-benefits to learn how to apply your benefits as a CIU student.

**** Veteran’s Benefits Additional Policy Information for Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 benefit holders. ****

CIU holds to the following policies with regards to the use of Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits:

• CIU will permit any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to the educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website – eBenefits, or a VAF 21-1905 form for Chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
  1. The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
  2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.
• CIU will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that the covered individual borrow additional funds, on a covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations due to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.
• Students are required to submit a written request annually to use such entitlement in the form of a Certification Request Form which can be downloaded from https://www.ciu.edu/veterans-benefits and/or emailed out by the School Certifying Official (SCO).
• Once all VA payment(s) have been received for a given semester, the student will be responsible to pay any remaining balance on their account and can be penalized for non-payment of any amount that is the difference between the amount of the student’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement.

Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits

Students who are overcoming physical and/or developmental obstacles may be eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation benefits through their state of residence. Students should contact their local Vocational Rehabilitation agency for more information.

International Students

International students do not complete the FAFSA. Instead, they should contact the Financial Aid Office to obtain the necessary instructions related to the application process. International students seeking financial aid should be aware that they are required by the U.S. federal government to demonstrate they have the funds necessary to attend the University prior to arriving in the United States. The U.S. government has determined that, barring unforeseen circumstances, adequate funding should be available from the same or equally dependable sources for subsequent years of study (U.S. Federal code 22 CFR 41.61 (b) (ii)). Highest consideration in awarding CIU financial aid to international students will be given to those students who meet the following criteria:

• Have a proven record of ministry effectiveness, especially in leadership positions
• Explicitly affirm their intention to return home to engage in a specific ministry role for which theological education may provide a strategic advantage
• Receive endorsement and financial backing from their native church and/or coordinating mission agency

Financial Aid Refund Policy

Policies have been established in accordance with federal regulations to ensure a fair and equitable refund of tuition for CIU students who are receiving financial aid and withdraw from the University either partially or completely during the course of an enrollment period. In order to make CIU scholarships and grants available to as many eligible students as possible, all CIU scholarships and grants are reduced or forfeited when a recipient withdraws from CIU before the end of a term or drops below 12 hours of enrollment for undergraduate and below nine hours for graduate or seminary students. In such an event, CIU scholarship and grant recipients are responsible for complete repayment of funds. Further policy regarding withdrawal and tuition refund can be found in the CIU Financial Aid Terms and Conditions at http://www.ciu.edu/terms-and-conditions-financial-aid-awards.

State Postsecondary Review Entity (SPRE)

Students attending schools that participate in federal student aid programs (Title IV programs) have the right to notify the State Postsecondary Review Entity (SPRE) of complaints regarding the institution’s management of the Title IV programs, misleading or inappropriate advertising and promotion of the institution’s educational programs, or other complaints about the institution. Students must first complete the institution’s internal grievance process. The SPRE may be contacted at 803.737.2264 or at: The SC SPRE Complaint System, 1333 Main Street, Suite 200, Columbia, SC 29201.