Dillard University: Navigating Tuition, Fees, Scholarships, and Financial Aid

Dillard University, a private, historically Black, liberal arts college located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1930, it incorporates earlier institutions established as early as 1869 after the American Civil War. This article delves into the costs associated with attending Dillard University, including tuition, fees, and room and board, and explores the various financial aid options available to students, such as scholarships, grants, and loans.

Understanding the Cost of Attendance

The "Cost of Attendance" represents the total amount of money the average student has to pay to attend Dillard University without any financial aid. It is essentially the school’s sticker price. Understanding this cost is the first step in managing college expenses. The sticker price at Dillard University is $37,724.

Current Costs

The average cost of attendance for Dillard University depends on several factors. The current average annual cost depends on how old the student is and how much gift aid they will qualify for.

Projected College Costs

Projected college costs assume an annual increase in costs. It's important to consider that the cost of attendance can vary from year to year and will typically rise over the four years a student is in college.

Components of the Cost

To understand the overall cost, it's essential to break down the various components:

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Tuition: Dillard University's tuition is $20,118. This covers the cost of instruction and academic resources.
Fees: Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources, and campus health centers.
Room and Board: This covers the cost of housing and meals while attending the university.

Financial Aid Options at Dillard University

Dillard University is committed to making higher education accessible and affordable for all students. The Office of Financial Aid guides students through the financial aid process, from completing the FAFSA to understanding costs, tuition, and fees. The university awards millions in institutional aid each year to help students finance their education.

Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid includes scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs that assist students with paying for their college education. Dillard University awards $14 million in institutional aid each year, with an average institutional grant of $9,193 per student.

Scholarships: These are typically offered by a college, foundation, or other organization based on a student’s academic performance or other achievements. Scholarships do not need to be repaid, but students may have to reapply for them each year. Dillard University offers a variety of merit and talent-based scholarships to entering freshmen and transfer students.
Grants: These are usually offered by a government or other organization based on a student’s financial need. Grants do not need to be repaid. Dillard University also offers grants to further defray the cost of attendance. 68% of undergraduates receive Pell grants.
Work-Study: These are college programs that offer part-time jobs to students who demonstrate financial need, allowing them to work and earn money while in school.
Loans: These can be need-based or non-need-based and are available to students to help cover educational expenses. Student loans are sums of money given to students to help them pay for college now, and this money must be paid back later with interest. 76% of full-time first-time undergraduates are awarded federal student loans.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a crucial tool for accessing financial aid. Dillard University uses the FAFSA to determine a student's financial need. The FAFSA is available October 1st prior to the academic year in which the student is seeking Financial Aid. The FAFSA should be completed by March 1 for priority consideration.

Understanding Financial Need

Financial need represents the difference between the estimated cost of attendance and the amount that the student and the student’s family are expected to contribute toward the educational costs. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships uses the need analysis from the FAFSA to determine financial need.

Student Aid Report (SAR) and Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

Once the FAFSA is processed, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be generated to the applicant. The SAR will indicate the family’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is used to determine the student’s eligibility for Financial Aid.

Scholarship Opportunities

Dillard University offers a variety of merit and talent-based scholarships to entering freshmen and transfer students. The scholarship program seeks to reward students who have demonstrated academic excellence through competitive grade point averages, test scores, and solid recommendations from counselors and teachers. Applications for scholarship assistance must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships by March 1.

Tuition Waiver for Faculty and Staff Dependents

The University provides up to full tuition waiver for the spouses and dependent children of its faculty and staff personnel. All applicants must complete the FAFSA before scholarship assistance can be provided. Scholarship benefits for children and spouses will be awarded, minus the total amount of any scholarships and federal grants, if any, for which the dependent qualifies and receives. University scholarships to legal dependents and spouses are not available to cover tuition for summer school.

Departmental Awards

Some departments at Dillard have awards arranged through private foundations or public agencies. Eligibility for these awards is limited to study in particular academic departments or specific fields of specialization. Additionally, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships nominates students to receive scholarships from private foundations or public agencies.

Loan Programs

Several loan programs are available to students to help finance their education at Dillard University.

Nursing Student Loans

Nursing Student Loans are available to nursing students enrolled at the clinical level. No interest charges accrue until the repayment period begins, at which time interest is assessed at the rate of 5% per year on the unpaid balance of the loan. Repayment may be made on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis beginning nine months after the borrower ceases to be a full-time student.

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Federal Stafford Loans

Federal Stafford Loans are obtained through the United States Department of Education. Current regulations permit borrowing up to $3,500 as a freshman, $4,500 for sophomores, and $5,500 for juniors and seniors. An additional $2,000 unsubsidized loan is available to all eligible students. Repayment is deferred until six months after the borrower has graduated, withdrawn from study, or entered less than half-time enrollment.

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are for independent student borrowers. Dependent borrowers whose parents are denied the PLUS loan are also eligible to borrow this loan. Current regulation permits unsubsidized borrowers up to $4,000 per year as freshmen and sophomores and $5,000 as juniors and seniors.

PLUS Loans

PLUS Loans are for parents (and stepparents) who want to borrow to help pay for their child’s educational expenses.

Federal Work Study Program

The primary purpose of the Federal Work Study Program is to stimulate and promote the part-time employment of students. In order to qualify, students must demonstrate financial need. The basic pay rate is usually the existing federal minimum hourly wage. Those students who meet the March 1 deadline and show a high need are given first priority.

Refund Policy and Withdrawal Procedures

Students who decide not to attend the University must officially withdraw. An official withdrawal form should be properly executed by the student, approved by the authorized officials, and presented to the university registrar. Refunds will be based on the date the student receives approval for withdrawal in the Registrar’s Office, regardless of the date of last attendance.

Return of Title IV Funds

Federal Regulations require schools participating in the Student Financial Aid Programs to use specific refund policies when a student who receives Federal Financial Aid ceases attendance. Students earn their federal financial aid based on the percentage of the term that they have completed. A Return of Title IV Funds calculation determines the percentage of financial aid students have earned. Dillard University must return funds to the Federal Government, based on calculations, up to the total net amount from each source, in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, Subsidized Federal Direct Loan, PLUS Loan, Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, and any other Title IV programs.

Net Price and Affordability

The Net Price is the total cost of attending Dillard University, minus the total aid given (grants and scholarships). The US government has developed a standardized way to calculate how much a typical family can afford to pay without help, known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Colleges use this number as a guideline to decide how much aid to give you.

Student Loan Debt

The median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree at Dillard University is $31,000. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $329.

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