Understanding South University Tuition Costs and Financial Aid

Choosing a university is a significant investment. When evaluating different institutions, it's essential to consider not only the sticker price but also the total cost, encompassing expenses like food and housing, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. Furthermore, understanding the net price, which factors in aid and scholarship funds, is crucial for determining affordability. This article provides a detailed breakdown of South University's tuition costs, fees, and financial aid options to help prospective students make informed decisions.

Tuition and Fees

South University's tuition structure varies depending on the program and level of study (undergraduate or graduate) and whether the program is online or on-campus. Here's a detailed overview:

Undergraduate Tuition

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (entry level): \$475 per quarter credit hour.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (professional level): \$617 per quarter credit hour. A \$500 nonrefundable acceptance fee is applied to tuition for the first quarter upon enrollment in the professional phase.
RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing: \$255 per quarter credit hour.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor in Business, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, and Bachelor of Science in Public Health: \$475 per quarter credit hour.
Associate of Science in Allied Health Science, Associate of Science in Medical Assisting, Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant, Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, and Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant: \$475 per quarter credit hour.

Graduate Tuition

Doctor of Ministry: \$650 per quarter credit hour. A non-refundable digital textbook fee of \$400 per quarter for the first six quarters covers a customized South University Logos package.
Doctor of Nursing Practice: \$650 per quarter credit hour.
Doctor of Business Administration: \$695 per quarter credit hour. A fee of $200 will be collected for each extension course a student enrolls in to complete the Doctor of Business Administration degree.
Doctor of Pharmacy: \$12,681 per quarter for full-time students. Students taking less than 10 quarter credit hours or remediating courses will be charged \$1235 per quarter credit hour, with a maximum quarterly tuition of \$12,681.
Master of Business Administration (after completion of the Doctorate of Pharmacy degree program): \$669 per quarter credit hour.
Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science: \$11,671 per quarter.
Master of Science in Physician Assistant: \$10,856 per quarter.
RN to Master of Science in Nursing: \$255 per quarter credit hour for undergraduate level classes and \$660 per quarter credit hour for graduate level classes.
Master of Science in Nursing: \$660 per quarter credit hour.
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: \$655 per quarter credit hour.
11-week and hybrid 10-week Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Leadership: \$415 per quarter credit hour.
11-week Master of Science in Information Systems: \$415 per quarter credit hour.
Hybrid 10-week Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration: \$415 per quarter credit hour.
Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Human Resources Management, and Master in Public Administration: \$695 per quarter credit hour.
Master in Public Health: \$550 per quarter credit hour.
Master of Science in Criminal Justice: \$669 per quarter credit hour.

Online Program Tuition

The online program tuition mirrors the on-campus tuition for many programs:

Doctor of Ministry: \$650 per quarter credit hour, plus a \$400 digital textbook fee for the first six quarters.
Doctor of Nursing Practice: \$650 per quarter credit hour.
Doctor of Business Administration: \$695 per quarter credit hour.
RN to Master of Science in Nursing: \$255 per quarter credit hour for undergraduate level classes and \$660 per quarter credit hour for graduate level classes.
Master of Science in Nursing: \$660 per quarter credit hour.
BS to MS in Accounting: \$475 per quarter credit hour for undergrad level classes and \$695 per quarter credit hour for graduate level classes.
Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration, Master of Science in Information Systems, and Master of Science in Leadership: \$415 per quarter credit hour.
Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Human Resources Management, and Master in Public Administration: \$695 per quarter credit hour.
Master of Science in Criminal Justice: \$669 per quarter credit hour.
Master in Public Health: \$550 per quarter credit hour.
RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing: \$255 per quarter credit.
Associate of Science in Allied Health Science, Associate of Science in Medical Assisting, Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, and Bachelor of Science in Public Health: \$475 per quarter credit hour.

Additional Fees

Besides tuition, students should be aware of the following fees:

Acceptance Fees: Some programs, like the Anesthesiologist Assistant, Physician Assistant, and Doctor of Pharmacy programs, have non-refundable acceptance fees ranging from \$500 to \$1000. These fees are applied towards the first quarter's tuition.
Application Fees: South University generally does not charge application fees, but some programs utilizing external application processing services may have associated fees.
Auditing Fee: Audited courses are subject to the same tuition and fees as courses taken for credit.
Clinical Compliance Tracking System Fee: New students in the College of Nursing and those entering the professional phase of the BSN program pay fees for clinical clearance requirements.
Clinical Experience Fee: The Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science and Master of Science in Physician Assistant programs have a \$1000 per quarter clinical experience fee.
Digital Textbooks: South University automatically provides digital textbooks through a third-party vendor, with costs charged to the student account. Students can opt-out, but they are then responsible for purchasing their own textbooks. The student cost per quarter credit hour is \$15.
Diploma Fee: One official diploma is provided upon graduation. Duplicate diplomas cost \$75 each.
Extension Fee (Doctor of Business Administration): A fee of $200 will be collected for each extension course a student enrolls in to complete the Doctor of Business Administration degree.
Final Project Extension Fee (Doctor of Ministry): A fee of $200 will be collected for each extension course a student enrolls in to complete the Doctor of Ministry Degree.
Graduation Fee: A \$250 graduation fee is collected from each candidate.
International Student Fee: International students pay a \$400 quarterly fee.
Membership Fees: Students in certain programs, like Occupational Therapy Assistant and Physician Assistant, may incur membership fees for professional organizations.
Nurse Entrance Examination Fee: Applicants for pre-licensure nursing programs must pay for an entrance examination (TEAS).
Physical Therapist Assistant Entrance Exam Fee: Applicants for the professional phase of the Physical Therapist Assistant program must pay for an entrance examination (ATI TEAS).
Practicum Evaluation Fee: There is a nonrefundable $525 practicum evaluation fee charged for each practicum course in all Nursing programs.
Registration Fee: A \$25 registration fee applies per term, but not to students in the RN to BSN, hybrid 10-week MBA, MBA-HCA, and MSL degree programs.
Student I.D. Replacement Fee: Replacement student IDs cost \$10.
Technology Fee: A \$20 per quarter credit hour technology fee applies to all students except Pharmacy students, who pay \$150 per quarter.
Transcript Fee: Official transcripts cost \$10 each.

Costs

The total cost of attendance includes not only tuition and fees but also other expenses. While specific figures for personal expenses and transportation aren't available, South University estimates \$1,500 per year for books and supplies.

Read also: Applying to USF Doctoral Programs

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to help students finance their education. It can include grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on a student's financial need.

Types of Financial Aid

Need-Based Aid: Determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), need-based aid includes federal loans and work-study.
Merit-Based Aid: Awarded for academic, athletic, or other talents.
Scholarships: Funding that does not need to be repaid, awarded based on need, merit, community service, or other criteria.

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Net Price: \$24,116 per year. The net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Average Aid Package: \$6,006.
Students Receiving Financial Aid: Data not available.

Student Loans

Median Federal Loan Debt: \$26,123 among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree.
Median Monthly Federal Loan Payment: \$277 (assuming a 10-year repayment at 5.05% interest).

It's important to note that ideally, total student loan debt should be less than the anticipated starting salary after graduation.

Additional Financial Aid Information

South University is G.I. Bill certified and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The institution does not award Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, or Federal Direct PLUS Loans.

Net Price

The average net price at South University is \$24,116 per year. The net price is a collegeâs cost of attendance minus the grants and scholarships you receive. The net price you pay for a particular college is specific to you because itâs based on your personal circumstances and the collegeâs financial aid policies. Use the collegeâs Net Price calculator for the most accurate estimate of your net price.

Finding Student Loans

Several lenders offer student loans with varying APRs and terms. Some popular options include:

Sallie Mae: Fixed APR from 2.89% to 17.49% (with autopay), Variable APR from 3.75% to 16.37% (with autopay).
College Ave: Fixed APR from 2.74% to 17.99% (with autopay), Variable APR from 3.89% to 17.99% (with autopay).
Ascent Funding: Fixed APR from 2.89% to 15.16% (with autopay), Variable APR from 4.17% to 14.83% (with autopay).

Read also: Supporting South High Students

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