Academic Catalog
Financial Aid & Financing
Financial Aid
Advancing your professional education is an investment in your personal and professional development. The University makes every effort to make a post-secondary education an achievable goal for all qualified applicants. Students that are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens enrolled in an eligible program may apply for student financial aid as a means of assisting with financing their education.
Students enrolled in Directed Study programs may be eligible for Title IV Federally insured student loans in amounts sufficient to cover 100% of tuition, fees, books, and related costs. Financial Aid is not available for students enrolled in Independent Study programs and for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Completion Program, Master of Science in Taxation, and Master of Laws in Taxation programs.
A student may apply for financial aid after applying for admissions to the University. The following forms are required to begin the application process for student financial aid loans:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note
Entrance Counseling Form if applicant is a first-time borrower, has discharged loans, or has paid off all prior loans
University Enrollment Agreement documents
If necessary, complete and submit a Withdrawal/Clearance Letter to release prospective student’s prior FSA obligation.
The average time for financial aid processing is 30 days. Prospective students should plan accordingly. The Department of Education restricts loan limits by level of education and program of study. Affordability is a hallmark of a William Howard Taft University program. As such, the tuition for all applicable programs falls under the maximum annual loan limits. Please ask your financial aid advisor for more information.
We highly recommend following our online financial aid process listed on the Financial Aid & Financing page of our website. This link will give the student an overview of the steps to complete the required student financial aid documents, which begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. A student must apply for Federal Student Aid for each academic year of study.
Entrance counseling is required of new students, following information from the US Department of Education’s website. Students must take and pass an entrance counseling quiz.
Statement of Educational Purpose
Federal Financial Aid is to be used solely for the students’ educational expenses related to their enrollment in The University System eligible programs.
Tuition Financing
Courses offered in the Independent Study modality are non-Title IV financial aid eligible. In addition, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Degree Completion program, Master of Science in Taxation and Master of Laws in Taxation programs are not financial aid eligible. The University offers interest-free short-term financing plans that permits students to pay tuition on an installment basis. This generally requires an initial payment equal to 30% of the tuition for the semester with the balance paid over a term of three months.
Employer Acceptance and Tuition Reimbursement
Many businesses and professional firms recognize the value of accredited distance learning programs for employee education. The University has established the Partners in Professional Education (PIPE) program. This is a cooperative undertaking between employers and the University to provide graduate level educational opportunities to qualified employees. Through the PIPE program, eligible employees may obtain tuition discounts ranging between five and twenty percent.
Many organizations sponsor employer-assisted tuition reimbursement programs. The University will provide all reasonable assistance to supply the necessary documentation to students seeking employer reimbursement.
Student Loan Deferrals
Students are generally eligible to defer repayment of existing federally insured student loans during their enrollment period. Applicants are encouraged to check with their lenders to confirm deferral eligibility in their circumstances before enrollment.
Income Tax Credits and Deductions
Many University students may qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit on their Federal income tax return. Some education expenses may also qualify as a business deduction for work-related education pursuant to Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code. It is recommended that applicants consult with their tax advisor or read IRS Publication 970 (Tax Benefits for Education) to determine how these credits or deductions might benefit them individually.
Attendance
Students must register to complete a minimum of six credits per semester. However, after the first semester, students may petition to take an additional course in their subsequent semester. A minimum of twelve semester hours is required for full-time enrollment for undergraduate students. Nine hours is classified as 3/4 time and six hours represents part-time undergraduate enrollment. The minimum time for completion should be considered to ensure the student completes the program of study within the University requirement.
Cancellation Policy
Students may withdraw without prejudice by notifying the university of their in any manner; however, written notification to student support at any time within the semester as indicated in their enrollment agreement is highly recommended.
Tuition Refund Policy
The university has adopted the following refund policy. Refundable tuition is defined as the tuition set in the enrollment documentation. For the purposes of refunds, each eight-week session is considered independent of other sessions. If a student cancels enrollment within the first week of a session (first seven days), the university will refund all tuition paid by the student. If the student withdraws or is dismissed after seven days of the start of the session, the student shall be entitled to a prorated refund as outlined below.
The chart below outlined tuition refunds based upon the date the university receives notification of intent to withdraw.
| Week | Day of Semester | % of Tuition Refund |
|---|---|---|
| First Week | Day 1 to 7 of the 8-week session | 100% tuition refund |
| Second Week | Day 8 to 14 of the 8-week session | 80% tuition refund |
| Third Week | Day 15 to 21 of the 8-week session | 60% tuition refund |
| Fourth Week | Day 22 to 28 of the 8-week session | 40% tuition refund |
| Fifth Week | Day 29 to 35 of the 8-week session | 20% tuition refund |
| Sixth Week | Day 36 or later | No Refund |
No refunds are payable after the start of week 6 in the eight-week session. Refunds are not payable for completed courses. As an example of the refund policy, a student who withdraws the fourth week of the eight-week session (Day 25), having paid tuition in the amount of $1,000 would receive a refund of $400 ($1,000 multiplied by 40%).
For refund calculation purposes, any withdrawal shall be based on the date student notifies the university with an intent to withdraw. Withdrawal does not relieve students of the obligation to pay for charges incurred prior to the date of withdrawal. Unless otherwise noted in writing, university fees are non-refundable. The university will issue refunds pursuant to the above conditions within 30 days of notification.
Dismissals shall be effective on the date such action is taken by the administration or when a student fails to maintain the academic standards set forth in the catalog, whichever shall occur first. If a loan was obtained to pay for tuition, it is the student’s responsibility to repay the full amount of any loan plus any interest. Student is advised that some financial institutions require the university to repay any refunds due directly to the lender and student expressly authorizes the university to comply with such requests.
Return of Funds
When a Title IV student withdraws from the University, a Return to Title IV calculation is completed, which may require the student to return unearned funds to the Department of Education. A student will not receive additional Title IV awards until the dollars have been repaid.
Although a student may receive financial aid funds at the beginning of a term, the student must “earn” funds over the course of a term by continuing to meet academic and attendance requirements. When a student does not complete a term of study, the University will determine the earned and unearned portion of the student’s aid within Federal Regulations.
During a Return to Title IV Funds calculation, the payment period is defined as the semester the student withdrew. To determine the percentage earned, divide the total number of days completed before the student withdrew from the course or program by the total number of days in the payment period. If a student meets academic participation requirements for over 60% of the term before the withdrawal occurs, the student has earned all of his or her federal financial aid and is not required to return any funds. If a student withdraws having met 60% or less of academic participation requirements, there will be unearned funds to return.