Financial Assistance Options for Students
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Financial Aid Options for Students
The Tulane School of Professional Advancement offers financial aid assistance to help cover educational costs for students who qualify. Financial aid helps students handle the costs of tuition, room and board, books, fees, transportation to and from school, and personal expenses. Explore your eligibility options and the types of financial aid we offer at SoPA.
Financial Aid Eligibility
For detailed information on financial aid and the application process, please visit the Tulane Financial Aid Website.
Pursuing a degree or certification from SoPA is an investment in your future. That's why we want every student who is eligible to be able to supplement the cost of their education with financial help. Whether you are a new or returning Tulane student, we are committed to helping you understand how financial aid works. In most cases, federal aid is awarded based on financial need. Need determinations are based on the data you provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants who plan to seek federal financial aid are strongly advised to apply at least six weeks before the start of the semester. The deadline for all applications is January 1 for the spring semester, May 1 for the summer semester, and August 1 for the fall semester.
TOPS Eligibility
- You must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
- You must be enrolled in an academic program at SoPA
- You must not be in default on a prior educational loan or owe a repayment on a federal grant
- You must be registered with the Selective Service (if required to register)
- Continuing students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards
First time freshmen enrolling at SoPA as full-time students are eligible for TOPS. SoPA students are considered full-time students for tops if they complete at least 24 credit hours their first year of enrollment. For more information please visit the TOPS website or contact your SoPA advisor.
Types of Financial Assistance Available
There are three main types of aid available to students—grants, loans, and scholarships. Grants, such as the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, are funds that do not need to be repaid. Available federal loans include Federal Direct Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, as well as alternative, credit-based loans that are not part of the federal program. Scholarships from SoPA are in the form of tuition discounts or lump sums applied towards tuition costs. Your financial advisor will help assist you in determining which type of aid is available and best suited to your pursuits. View our costs for undergraduate and graduate tuition, as well as associated fees and other expenses.
Scholarships
SoPA offers several scholarship programs, including discounts on tuition, student scholarships, and external scholarships.
20% Tuition Discount Scholarships*
A Tulane education can be affordable at SoPA. We offer a 20% tuition discount on undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate level-courses. The Program of Nursing does not support the 20% tuition discount. Students must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Active and retired public safety personnel (firefighter, police officer, or paramedic)
- Full-time educators and paraprofessionals
- Veterans and active-duty military personnel**
- Graduates of HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions
- Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members
- Tulane alumni
- Employees who work for government offices in Jefferson or Orleans Parish or City
- Adults over the age of 60
- Tulane SoPA adjunct faculty currently teaching a course at SoPA
- National League of Cities University partnership referral to the MPA program
- New Leaders Council partnership referral to the MPA program
- Members of state and local government in the state of Louisiana
- Members of federal, state and local emergency services & law enforcement agencies
- SoPA professional and partnership agencies
- International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) members
*20% discounts cannot be combined with each other (i.e. a student can only claim one type of 20% discount), but may be combined with scholarships. If 100% of your tuition is covered by a Tulane tuition waiver or scholarship, you are not eligible for a tuition discount. All students must fill out the tuition discount form each semester. The form is open 60 days before the start of the semester and closes 7 days after the start of each semester.
Early Enrollment Scholarship
The early enrollment scholarship is available to all first-time students entering SoPA who register for their first semester of classes by the scholarship deadlines. This is a one-time scholarship and the amount of the scholarship will be applied towards their first semester's tuition.
The early enrollment scholarship is $500 for graduate students and $200 for undergraduate students.
SoPA students who enroll in courses by the following dates are eligible for a one-time scholarship. Graduate students will receive $500 and undergraduate students will receive $200. Register for classes early and save money on tuition!
Fall
Early Enrollment
Scholarship deadline
Spring
Early Enrollment
Scholarship deadline
Summer
Early Enrollment
Scholarship deadline
Transfer Scholarship
Students transferring credit into a Tulane SoPA undergraduate program are eligible to receive a $500 tuition scholarship for three consecutive semesters, for a maximum scholarship of $1,500*. Students must:
- Indicate on their application that they are a transfer student
- Submit a transcript from a prior undergraduate institution with a grade, credit hours and a course title
- Show credits from a regionally accredited institution
*Scholarships available to students who transferred to Tulane SoPA after Spring 2022.
Teacher Education Waivers, Stipends, and Discounts
Tulane SoPA is dedicated to reducing the financial burden of tuition costs to aspiring teachers. Through a grant from The U.S. Department of Education’s (USDOE) Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Grant Program, students in the MAT program may qualify for a full tuition waiver. This grant also offers Tulane SoPA undergraduate students who enroll in Education Coordinate Majors to have tuition waived for their undergraduate education courses. We also offer a variety of discounts and tuition waivers available to aspiring and current educators and paraprofessionals.
PTK Scholarship
SoPA’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society scholarship for undergraduates helps fill the gap between tuition and mandatory fees, and awarded financial aid. It can pay for tuition and eligible fee-related expenses at Tulane, and is calculated after all other scholarships, discounts and financial aid for which a student is eligible have been accounted.
The scholarship is for up to $1,500 per semester to Tulane SoPA, or $3,000 a year. Visit the PTK page for more information.
Endowed Scholarships
We have eight scholarship programs designated for current students. Click below for information on the requirements for each scholarship.
Tulane SoPA also participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill® Yellow Ribbon Program for eligible students enrolling in our master degree programs. military benefits page offers detailed information.
Some students may be eligible for multiple tuition discounts. Students may only claim one discount. Stacking discounts is not allowed.
Employer Reimbursed Tuition
Does your employer offer tuition discounts or reimbursement for you to go back to school? If so, Tulane SoPA will defer your tuition charges, according to your employer’s reimbursement schedule, for up to 45 days following the end of the semester. Accounts Receivable accepts employer reimbursement agreements on individual basis. Your employer should have written documentation regarding this benefit and the forms required. Once you gather the forms required from your employer, submit to sopa20@tulane.edu and Accounts Receivable will apply a deferment credit to your account.
Helpful Resources for Financial Assistance
Our office of financial aid wants to make your financial aid application and approval process as simple and streamlined as possible. You can begin your FAFSA application online. Your financial aid advisor will review your application and aid package offering, while also assisting with any questions regarding communication with the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans' discounts. Active Duty Military personnel and veterans can explore the military benefits we proudly offer at our designated Military Friendly® School.
Net Price Tuition Calculator
This calculator is intended to provide estimated net price information. It is provided to help you estimate the cost of attendance — including tuition and required fees, and an industry estimate of books. It does not include other expenses such as specific course lab fees.
By clicking below, you acknowledge that the estimate provided using this calculator does not represent any final cost determination or a final net price. Cost of attendance may change year to year.
For additional information regarding SoPA tuition and fees, you may read the current information on our website. For financial aid information, you may contact the Tulane Department of Financial Aid directly.
Interested in our Education master's degrees or graduate certificates? See here for information on program-specific scholarships and discounts and to calculate your tuition.
By submitting this form, you agree to receive information about the Tulane School of Professional Advancement’s programs via email, phone and/or text. You may opt out at any time.
Contact SoPA for More Information
We know that applying for financial aid can seem daunting. That's why the Tulane School of Professional Advancement is here to help you through the entire process. Your financial aid counselor can assist with the application process, choosing between aid packages, and scholarship and discount opportunities.
