Financing Your Master’s Degree
Whether you’re finishing your graduate degree as a full-time or part-time student, we can help set you up for success with the tools and information to craft a personalized plan and finance your Master’s.
2024-25 FAFSA is open.
File Now.
If you are a student who is looking to begin college in 2024-25 school year, the new FAFSA is now open. There are changes from years past, so for more information on the changes or to apply, visit the Federal Student Aid website.
Contact
Financial Aid Office, Blasco Hall, lower level
11901 Wornall Road / Kansas City, MO 64145 / 816.501.3600 f: 816.501.2462
E: sfs
Looking for your 1098T Form? Here’s where you’ll find it.
Graduate Degree Seekers
Your first step is to fill you the FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the official application for all sources of federal aid for graduate/professional students. Eligible graduate students qualify for Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans as well as Graduate PLUS loans (additional application) through the FAFSA. Students must be enrolled half-time (3 hours per term) to qualify for an unsubsidized loan. Applying for financial aid is an annual process so you’ll need to do this every year you’re enrolled.
Avila University has a partnership with Bright Horizons to provide employers with significant tuition discounts. Check with your employer if you’re eligible for EdAssist discounts.
Outside scholarships are also available to Graduate students.
Notification of Financial Aid: For students who apply for Financial Aid (file the FAFSA) an email will be sent to your official Avila email account once you are awarded. You will be directed to your MyAU account to both view and accept/decline your loans.
Employer’s tuition reimbursement Program
For students who participate in a company tuition reimbursement program, Avila offers the Promise to Pay (Employer Reimbursement) deferred payment plan through the student’s MyAU portal. The following guidelines apply:
a) The student agrees to pay Avila University a fee of $40 per term/semester for the privilege of paying tuition and fees after the beginning of the term/semester.
b) The student shall be solely responsible for paying Avila University the amount, which represents the tuition, fees, and other charges for those courses for which he or she is registered. Said payment shall be paid in full by the student within 45 days of completing those courses even if the employer should fail to reimburse for any reason.
c) Should the student withdraw from any classes, he or she agrees to pay any balance due in accordance with the withdrawal and payment policy as published in the Avila University catalog.
d) With regard to any classes not covered by the Employer’s Tuition Reimbursement Program, the student shall pay the tuition, fees, and any other charges owed to Avila University in accordance with the normal payment policies of Avila University. Payment is due and payable 2 weeks before the term/semester begins.
e) The student is responsible for remitting payments on time in accordance with the terms of this agreement. The student understands that delinquent accounts will result in the discontinuation of further enrollment and release of transcripts until accounts are paid in full.
Here is a link to the Business Office policies Tuition, Fees, and Housing Costs | Avila University | Kansas City
Outside Scholarships and discounts
Outside scholarships include any funding from sources outside of Avila University, the State of Missouri, or the federal government. Awards from companies, foundations, civic and religious organizations, and employer tuition benefits are common examples of outside scholarships. Outside scholarships can affect a student’s aid eligibility, so they must be reported to the Financial Aid Office. Outside scholarships help meet a student’s college costs, so we are required to take these awards into account when determining eligibility for other aid programs. If we have to adjust other sources of aid — which may be required under state and federal regulations — we always reduce need-based loans or work-study before reducing any gift aid, like need-based scholarships or grants.
Bright Horizons
Avila University has a partnership with Bright Horizons/EdAssist to provide employers students with significant tuition discounts. Check with your employer if you’re eligible for Bright Horizons/EdAssist discounts. The tuition discount for Children’s Mercy Hospital employees is 25% and for all other partner employers, it is 10%. Proof of employment with the partner employer must be provided to Avila’s Business Office by the student when first enrolling at Avila, and each fall thereafter to receive the discount.
Where to mail outside scholarships
If you have received a scholarship from an outside donor, please use the following address:
Avila University
Business Office/Outside Scholarship
11901 Wornall Rd. Kansas City, MO 64145
Please request that outside scholarship checks are made payable to Avila University
Be sure to give your donor your student identification number and ask them to include it with your award. It’s helpful if the donor includes a letter explaining the award terms when they send the award check to campus.
Avoid Scams
Every year students and their families lose money to scam artists posing as legitimate scholarship funding agencies. To avoid being defrauded, be cautious about suspicious scholarship offers.
It might be a scam if:
- You have to spend money to get money. Legitimate scholarship providers don’t charge application fees, “redemption” fees, or up-front taxes; nor do they ask students to make investments.
- They want a bank account or credit card information. Trustworthy donors won’t ask for a credit card number to “hold” your award.
- It’s guaranteed. No one can guarantee that you’ll receive a scholarship, and any promise of a money-back guarantee is a red flag.
- You can’t find the information anywhere else. Scholarship agencies don’t keep information secret; they want to award scholarships. If a service promises to provide funds no one else knows about, be suspicious.
- You win a contest you don’t remember entering. If you receive a message saying you’ve been selected for an award or you’re a finalist in a competition you’ve never heard of, it might be a scam.
- It sounds too good to be true. Trust your instincts. If you’re suspicious about an offer, you probably have a good reason.
Will you need a Student Loan?
Despite scholarship opportunities, many graduate students will need to take out a student loan from either the Federal government (Federal Direct Loans) or from private sources such as a bank or financial institution. Before you take out a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan, as loans must be repaid. Click here for more student loan information and resources.
Payment Methods
Avila University offers several ways to pay your bill. Please see the Business Office’s information for payments and payment plans Tuition, Fees, and Housing Costs | Avila University | Kansas City.