Understanding University of the Incarnate Word Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

Choosing a university is a significant decision, and understanding the costs associated with attending is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of the tuition, fees, and financial aid options available at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW). This information will help prospective students and their families make informed decisions about financing their education.

Cost of Attendance: Breaking Down the Numbers

The Cost of Attendance (COA), often referred to as a "student's budget," encompasses all expenses a student might incur during their academic year. It's divided into two main categories: direct costs and indirect costs.

Direct Costs: These are expenses paid directly to UIW. They include:

Tuition and Fees: The average cost of tuition and fees based on anticipated enrollment based on program. Note that billed tuition and fees will vary depending on actual enrollment. For the most recent academic year, the school's tuition and fees are $38,650.
Housing and Food: This applies to students who choose to live on campus.

Indirect Costs: These are expenses you may incur while you attend UIW but not paid directly to UIW. They include:

Off-Campus Housing/Meals: A reasonable estimate of what it would cost to live in San Antonio while attending school. Actual costs may vary by individual choices related to location and circumstances.
Transportation
Personal and Miscellaneous Expenses: Average expenses on items purchased throughout the academic year related to educational costs.

It's important to note that students may submit a Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request for additional expenses incurred during the enrollment period. Eligible expenses include child care costs, laptop, software and supplies. Cost of attendance adjustments only increase the ability to borrow additional loans, if eligible.

Tuition and Fees in Detail

University of the Incarnate Word's tuition is $38,650. Compared with the national average cost of tuition of $47,097, University of the Incarnate Word is cheaper. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers.

As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At University of the Incarnate Word, the total cost is $55,828.

Understanding Financial Aid

Financial aid can significantly reduce the overall cost of attending UIW. It comes in various forms, including grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA.

Types of Aid Available:

Need-Based Aid: This type of aid takes a student’s financial status into account.
- Scholarships and Grants: These do not need to be paid back. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at University of the Incarnate Word was $27,538. Additionally, 84% of first-year students received need-based financial aid. Types of need-based scholarships/grants available Average Need-Based Scholarship or Grant Award (First-year Students).
- Self-Help Aid: This includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $3,352.
Merit-Based Aid: Also called non-need-based aid, this is awarded for a specific talent or academic achievement. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at University of the Incarnate Word - excluding any athletic scholarships, if applicable - was $13,976.

University of the Incarnate Word met 71% of its students’ financial aid need.

Key Financial Aid Dates:

Application Due: Not available. The last day to apply for financial aid or turn in related paperwork.
Priority Application Due: Not available. Applications received prior to this date will be given the strongest consideration. Still apply for financial aid if you don’t make this due date.
Notification Date: Not available. When students receive a letter with the amount and types of aid the college is offering.
Response Due: Not available. The deadline for students to respond to the college’s aid offer.

Scholarships

Scholarships are a form of funding that you don’t need to pay back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation.

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Some students receive enough in scholarship money to cover their tuition and living expenses.

Jobs

Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job.

Begin your job search by checking whether your college has in-person or online job boards.

Student Loan Debt: What to Expect

How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate.

At University of the Incarnate Word, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $27,000. 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 $286.

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Additionally, 10% of graduating students at University of the Incarnate Word took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $35,416 in private loan debt at graduation.

Average Total Indebtedness of 2024 Graduating Class $30,055. Graduating students who have borrowed (any loan type, 2024) 62%.

Net Price: A Personalized Estimate

Average Net Price $21,246 per year. Your net price is a college’s cost of attendance minus the grants and scholarships you receive. The net price you pay for a particular college is specific to you because it’s based on your personal circumstances and the college’s financial aid policies. Use the college’s Net Price calculator for the most accurate estimate of your net price.

Additional Financial Considerations

G.I. Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program: University of the Incarnate Word is G.I. Bill certified and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, offering additional financial support to eligible veterans and their dependents.*Tuition Guarantee Plans: Tuition at time of first enrollment guaranteed only to students making advance payment

University of the Incarnate Word: An Overview

University of the Incarnate Word is a private institution that was founded in 1881. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of the Incarnate Word is ranked No. #293 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. #74 in Top Performers on Social Mobility. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,638 (fall 2024), and the campus size is 200 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of the Incarnate Word is 12:1. University of the Incarnate Word accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy. Seventy-six percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $20,618. The four-year graduation rate is 37%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $47,625.

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