Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Services provides assistance to students and their families on federal financial aid, institutional grants and scholarships, and information regarding the Parent PLUS Loan and private loans.

Affordable- Whatever your financial state, college is expensive. Most students in the nation’s colleges and universities help to finance their education through some type of financial aid. CUC’s Office of Student Financial Services is ready and willing to help you help yourself to the best financial aid available to you. Our office is located in Room 348 of Wilkinson Hall.

Student Accounts and Billing- On the first floor of Wilkinson Hall are the Accounting Services Office and the Cashier’s Window. This team provides student account and billing information. They accept and process payments to students’ accounts and also refund credit balances. Financial clearance is also taken care of in this office.

APPLY FOR AID
To access further information regarding financial aid at Columbia Union College and downloadable financial aid forms, please click the link below.
Gateway to Financial Aid

Students and Parents:
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)of 1974 requires that we have consent from the student before we disclose any information on their account. The student can go to myCUC and set up a FERPA password. Parents you MUST have this password when inquiring about your student's account.

Who We Are

Our financial advisers are professionals who understand your needs and are committed to making the financial aid process as simple and painless as possible.

Elaine Oliver, Director/ Associate Vice President
Tivon Gibson, Associate Director
Louise Lewis, Assistant Director
Sharon Conway, Assistant Director
Krissy Dean, Financial Adviser/ Loan Officer

Contact Information

Phone: (800) 835-4212 or (301) 891-4005
Email: finaid@cuc.edu
Fax: (301) 891-4167

Office Hours:
Monday, Thursday
9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Wednesday
9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Closed for Chapel (Wednesday 10:55 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.)

Friday
9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

So how much does school cost all together?
Ok, but suppose I don't want to live on campus?
That seems like a lot of money, how can I afford this much?
What if I don't qualify for Student Aid?
How do I receive the most aid possible?
Additional Information

Basic Costs
Tuition is $18,200 per year
Books are $1100.00 per year
Room/Board is $6559.00 per year
General Fee is $575.00 per year
Technology Fee is $575.00 per year
Total Yearly Cost (Off Campus) is $20,450.00
Total Yearly Cost (On Campus) is $27,009.00
So how much does school cost all together?
On Campus
Here at CUC we have Halcyon Hall, our women's dormitory, and Morrison Hall, our men's dormitory, and the majority of students live in these dorms. Alternative campus housing is also available for upperclassmen and married students. More than 60% of our students live in our on-campus housing.

Tuition is $18,200.00 per year
This amount is assuming you are taking between 12-16 hours per semester and that you will be in school for two semesters in the school year.

General and technology fees come to $1,100.00 per year
These fees cover computer lab fees, science lab fees, library costs and student association activities fees.

Books are $1100.00 per year
Once you are financially cleared, you are automatically credited $1100 for use in the bookstore. You may use this money to purchase items in the bookstore, including books, school supplies, snacks and CUC gear. Remember, your bill reflects only the amount you charge, so if you don't want to spend the amount allocated to you for the bookstore, you don't have to.

Room/Board is $6559.00 per year
Our dining hall is open during regular dining hours for students, offering an appealing vegetarian buffet. In addition, students on the meal plan can eat at regular dining times (breakfast, lunch and supper) and also drop by between these times for a sandwich or other snack--all as part of the standard meal plan.

Total Yearly Cost is $27,009.00

Ok, but suppose I don't want to live on campus?
Off Campus
We require that all students under 22 years old live on campus. Exceptions are made for students who can prove they are living with a family member, or are married.

Tuition is $18,200 per year
Fees are $1150.00 per year
Books are $1100.00 per year
Total Yearly Cost is $20,450.00

That seems like a lot of money, how can I afford it?
If you have any questions about your financial aid or your overall financial status on campus, please feel free to ask. If we don’t know the answers immediately, we will work on getting the answers, and respond as quickly as possible. Your satisfaction is important to us.

What if I don't qualify for Student Aid?
For families who do not qualify for financial aid or who will need help financing their family’s contribution after financial aid, there are several alternative financing options:

Payment in Full
A lump sum payment for each semester can be made by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, certified check or money order to Columbia Union College.

SallieMae TuitionPay Plan
The TuitionPay Plan allows you to spread your tuition payments equally over 10 months for the annual plan or 5 months for the semester plan, without interest or finance charges. (Families who sign up after July 31, will be eligible for the 9-month or 4-month plan.) Our monthly payment plan is administered by SallieMae.

Paying monthly using current income and savings helps you limit borrowing and reduces the overall cost of education. The TuitionPay Plan is available to all families, regardless of financial need. There is an annual enrollment fee of $100. Payments will be made monthly on the 1st of each month by ACH, auto-debit from checking or by MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

For more information about the TuitionPay Plan, call SallieMae at 800-635-0120 weekdays, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. or visit TuitionPay online. You can also contact Accounting Services at (301) 891-4488.

To enroll or for more information:
Tuitionpayenroll.com/cuc

Parents PLUS Loan
The Parent Federal PLUS Loan is a federally insured loan for parents of dependent students. It is a fixed interest rate loan that requires no collateral and has minimal credit requirements. There is no minimum or maximum loan amount so you can borrow up to the full cost of education less other aid received.

Apply by phone at 866-759-7737 or online with our preferred PLUS lender at:

Student Loan Xpress
www.studentloanxpress.com/school/columbia unioncolle
888-274-0398

Edamerica
www.edamerica.net
800-337-1009

Wachovia Education Finance
www.wachovia.com/education
800-338-2243

Private/Alternative Loans
Students may borrow with or sometimes without a qualified co-signer through the following loan programs:

Citibank
www.studentloan.com
800-967-2400

SallieMae/AMS
www.salliemaeedloan.com
800-695-3317

Given our strong bias toward service, we are eager to find new and better ways to address your needs. As we do this, we realize there are certain inescapable truths about your circumstances.

How do I receive the most aid possible?
The buck stops—with you
College is expensive and you are ultimately responsible for your own bill. Our team of financial counselors will do all we can to keep you informed of the status of your account—so that you get our best effort at a form of one-stop-shopping where you don’t feel you’re getting the runaround.

However, the initiative for making sure the process meets your needs must always be yours—we can’t make you fill out the required paperwork in a timely manner. We can’t take responsibility for your meeting any payment plans we put in place. As a college-age student you are ultimately the one who calls the shot--by what you do or don’t do, when you are supposed to do it.

You can access the aid you need
Most students at Columbia Union College receive some form of financial aid. We will try to make sure you get all the aid possible, including federal, state, and college funding—based on the information you supply us. We will put together a package that combines every form of aid we can find. But the sheer volume of students requesting assistance demands that everyone exercise patience--particularly at certain high-volume times of the year. We will always treat you with respect. We ask that you do the same with us.

The early bird gets the worm--or in this case, the most aid
Timing (as in doing your FAFSA early) is a critical component in assuring that you get all the aid possible. Many forms of aid are limited, in that if you don’t file by a certain date (March 1 for Maryland aid, for example) you lose the aid for the entire year. Other forms of aid are limited in that the college is able to provide only a specified total amount in that category for all students, and those students who file early have a greater chance of getting the aid over those who file later, after the money has run out.

Additional Information
Undergraduate
Full time(12-16 credit hours) per semester - $9100.00
Enrolled in over 16 credit hours - $760.00
Enrolled in 0.5-11.5 credit hours - $760.00

Summer
Each credit hour - $330.00

Refund Schedule
First week - 90% refund
Second week - 80% refund
Third week - 70% refund
Fourth week - 60% refund
Fifth week - 50% refund

Summer Refunds
First week - 100% refund

Undergraduate students - following fees are one time charges
Application Fee - $25.00
Enrollment Deposit - $50.00
Graduation Fee - $85.00
Residence Hall deposit - $150.00

International Students
Application Fee - $25.00
Health Insurance - $449.00 - this is a yearly fee
Graduation Fees - $85.00

All registered students - these fees are per semester
General Fee - $575.00
Technology Fee - $575.00
Course Fees (Individual course fees may apply to each class)

Seventh-day Adventist Employee Subsidy Form

For Columbia Union College's Financial aid infomation, documents and forms click on:
Electronic Financial Aid Office