Adult and Graduate Financial Aid
Invest in Yourself
A degree is one of the highest-return investments you can make, and at Florida Southern, it's more affordable and more fundable than you might expect.
Choosing Florida Southern means earning your degree from one of the nation’s best colleges, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, and others. While we’re proud of the recognition, we’re even prouder of our students' success. Our nationally ranked Career Services will help you find internships and jobs and support you long after graduation. After all, the real value of your investment is where it takes you.
For working adults and graduate students, the degree is designed to fit a busy life: accelerated terms, online and evening options, and a price that fits your budget.
Affordable by Design
Sometimes the best way to lower your cost is to start with a program that's built to be affordable. Our tuition is competitively priced for a private, accredited university, and accelerated 7-week terms mean you finish faster, which costs less. Transfer and prior credit can reduce your total further.
See the full picture, including per-credit tuition and fees for your program, on the Tuition and Costs page.
Types of Aid
Financial aid is provided to help students pay for or supplement payment of educational expenses. Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans and scholarships. Students commonly use a combination of these resources to pay for college.
For many working students, an employer covers part or all of the cost, and it's the first place to look.
- Tuition reimbursement and deferment. If your employer reimburses tuition, our deferment option lets you enroll now and pay after you're reimbursed, so you're not out of pocket while you wait.
- Corporate partnerships. Florida Southern partners directly with employers, including Amazon (Career Choice pre-pays your tuition) and GEICO (a tuition discount for associates).
Ask your HR department what's available, and ask us how to set up deferment.
Florida Southern is a military-friendly school. We accept VA education benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33), Montgomery GI Bill (Ch. 30 and Ch. 1606), Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Ch. 35), and Veteran Readiness and Employment (Ch. 31), as well as military Tuition Assistance for active duty service members.
What you qualify for depends on your level.
Adult Bachelor's students may qualify for:
- Federal Pell Grant (need-based, no repayment)
- Florida Bright Futures Scholarship (for eligible Florida residents)
- Florida Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) Grant (for eligible Florida residents)
Graduate and Doctoral students: Federal and Florida state grants are available only for undergraduate programs. Your strongest funding levers are employer support, assistantships, and loans.
If you've earned a third-party scholarship, you're welcome to apply it to your costs. You'll coordinate the award with the scholarship's source, and our team can help.
Loans are borrowed money, repaid with interest, and they're available at every level once you file the FAFSA.
- Federal Direct Loans. Subsidized loans (undergraduate, need-based) and Unsubsidized loans (available at all levels, not need-based).
- Private loans. Available through outside lenders. Compare terms carefully, as they could carry higher rates than federal loans.
Filing the FAFSA is the first step for any federal loan.
For graduate students. Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Accountancy (MAcc) students can apply for a graduate assistantship through the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise, working part-time in exchange for 25% to 100% tuition reimbursement, plus real professional experience that builds your resume.
How to Apply for Aid, Step by Step
Every student seeking aid follows a simple process.
- 1
The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal aid, including loans. Florida Southern's FAFSA code is 001488, and you file annually. Graduate and doctoral students file the FAFSA to access Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS loans.
- 2
After admission, you'll receive instructions for your FSC Portal account, where you'll review your aid package and manage your bill.
- 3
If you plan to use federal loans, complete entrance counseling and sign your Master Promissory Note at StudentAid.gov. Let the Financial Aid Office know if you are declining loans.
- 4
If you're selected for federal verification, submit your verification documents through the Federal Student Aid Student account.
Adult bachelor's students (Florida Residents):
If you're a Florida resident, complete the Florida EASE Grant application through your Applicant Status page, confirming your state aid eligibility.Graduate and doctoral students:
No additional state aid steps are required. Depending on your program, you may also need the Accelerated MAcc Agreement Form (MAcc) or Sponsor's Guarantee Form (international applicants). - 5
Once your aid is set, decide how to handle any remaining balance — pay in full, enroll in an interest-free payment plan, or arrange employer deferment.
Employer and Corporate Partnerships
Florida Southern partners directly with several employers, including Amazon (through Career Choice, which pre-pays tuition) and GEICO (a 15% tuition discount for associates). Even without a formal partnership, many employers offer tuition reimbursement that you can combine with FSC's payment options.
Financial Aid Glossary
Terms you'll come across as you plan how to pay.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) — The application that determines your eligibility for federal aid. File it annually; FSC's code is 001488.
Grant — Money awarded, usually based on financial need, that doesn't have to be repaid. Most grants are for undergraduate students.
Scholarship — An award, often merit-based, that doesn't have to be repaid. It may come from FSC or a third party.
Loan — Borrowed money repaid with interest. Federal loans generally carry lower, fixed rates than private loans.
Payment Plan — An interest-free option to spread your balance across monthly installments, available to any student through Nelnet.
Deferment (Employer) — An arrangement that may let you enroll now and pay after your employer reimburses your tuition.
Third-Party Scholarship — An award from outside FSC that you apply toward your costs and coordinate with the source.
Assistantship — For eligible graduate students, part-time work is exchanged for tuition reimbursement.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) — The GPA and course-completion standard you maintain to stay eligible for federal
aid.
Not sure what you qualify for?
The Financial Aid Office can walk you through current state and federal programs, explain eligibility requirements, and help you find additional funding sources you may not have considered.
