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 your education an achievable goal. Students that are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens enrolled in an eligible program may apply for student financial aid to assist with financing their education.
Students enrolled in Directed Study programs may be eligible for Title IV funding. Financial Aid is only available for certain programs. For example, it is unavailable for students enrolled in independent study programs or those enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Completion Program, Master of Science in Taxation, and Master of Laws in Taxation programs.
The following forms are required to begin the application process for student financial aid loans:
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
Log In | Federal Student AidEntrance Counseling Form if the applicant is a first-time borrower, has discharged loans, or has paid off all prior loans
Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note
Please plan accordingly. The average time for financial aid processing, with the FASFA simplification process, may take 7-10 business days. We highly recommend following our online process of financial assistance listed on the Financial Aid & Financing page of our website. This link offers 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. The Taft University System federal financial aid code is: G41004.
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 student’s educational expenses related to their enrollment in the university system’s eligible programs.
Tuition Financing Options
Courses offered in the Independent Study modality are not eligible for Title IV funding. 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 also not eligible for federal financial aid. There are other options for students. Students can pay in full or with installment payments. The university offers interest-free short-term financing plans that permit students to pay tuition on an installment basis. Please ask your admissions representative if you are interested in paying in installments
Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Many businesses and professional firms recognize the value of an employee’s education. Ask your employer about your benefits. Many workplaces offer solutions to fund education at a discount. The University has also established the Partners in Professional Education (PIPE) program. This is a cooperative undertaking between employers and the university to provide educational opportunities to qualified applicants. 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 assistance with the necessary documentation for students seeking employer reimbursement.
Student Loan Deferrals
Students are often eligible to defer repayment of existing student loans during their enrollment period if they are 3/4 time or full time. At William Howard Taft University, this translate to one course at a time. Applicants are encouraged to check with their lenders to confirm deferral eligibility in their circumstances before enrollment.
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 Title IV Calculation
When a Title IV student withdraws from the University, a Return to Title IV calculation is completed, which may require the school to return unearned funds to the Department of Education.
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 or withdraws before completing a term, the University will determine the “earned” and “unearned” portion of the student’s aid within Title IV regulations. For example, should a student complete 30% of their term and decide to withdraw from their program, the university must return the funds to the federal government since the student has not completed or “earned” the full distribution of the funds. During a Return to Title IV Funds calculation, the payment period is defined as the semester the student withdrew. Once the calculations are complete, as determined by the governmental guidelines, the withdrawn student’s funds will be returned to the government in a specified timeframe.