Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition

Offered completely online and requiring no supplemental on-campus residency, our online graduate programs are accessible and affordable for students from around the world. Tuition and fees are based upon the current WVU Fee Schedule. All online marketing communications master's degree students are assessed the in-state tuition rate, regardless of residency.

Financial Aid

The WVU Financial Aid Office will work with you to access federal student loans to assist with the costs of your master’s degree education. You can contact the WVU Financial Aid Office at 304-293-5242 or https://financialaid.wvu.edu .

For online graduate students, the following types of aid are generally available:

1. Federal Direct Student Loans
   • Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible graduate and professional students, but the student does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loan
   • Must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year at least 4 weeks prior to the term in which you want financial aid.
   • Must be degree seeking (master’s degree in IMC or Data only, graduate certificate programs are not eligible as they are non-degree)
   • Maximum annual amount $20,500 (unsubsidized only) or cost of education
   • Must be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of 4 credit hours in fall/spring and 3 credit hours in summer) during the term for which the loan is processed
   • Current interest rates and repayment terms for federal student loans are published on the Federal Student Aid website
2. Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans
   • Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to eligible graduate and professional degree students who need to borrow more than the maximum unsubsidized loan amounts to meet their education costs
   • Credit based loan (a credit check will be done)
   • Must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year
   • Must be degree seeking (master’s degree in IMC or Data only, graduate certificate programs are not eligible as they are non-degree)
   • Maximum annual amount is the cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance received (including Federal Direct Student Loan)
   • Must be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of 4 credit hours in fall/spring and 3 credit hours in summer) during the term for which the loan is processed
   • Current interest rates and repayment terms for federal student loans are published on the Federal Student Aid website
3. Private Loans
   • Private student loans are nonfederal loans, made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, state agency, etc.
   • Credit based loan (a credit check will be done)
   • Must submit application materials directly to the private lender
   • Eligibility, interest rates and repayment provisions will vary by lender
   • You have the right to select the private lender of your choice
   • Access the list of lenders used by WVU students (No specific endorsements of these lenders are intended by WVU, the Financial Aid Office and the IMC or Data program.)
4. Employer Reimbursement

   All invoices must be paid before the first day of the term, even when an employer is paying the bill. Some employers are willing to pay for a student’s tuition and fees in advance but require an invoice detailing the charges.

   The employer must send a letter (on company letterhead) to WVU Online, P.O. Box 6800, Morgantown, WV, 26506.

   The letter must include authorization for WVU to bill the company for the student, the last four digits of the student’s social security number and the address where WVU Online is to send the invoice. The letter must indicate what percentage the employer is willing to pay (e.g., 50% of invoice, 100% tuition and fees or the dollar amount). If the employer is paying less than 100%, the student must arrange to pay the balance before the first day of the term.

   This letter should accompany student registrations every term. WVU Online views this as payment for the course(s) and forwards it to the WVU Office of Student Accounts for processing.

   If you have questions about your bill contact WVU Online and Extended Campus at 1-800-253-2762.

5. WVU Employee University Tuition Waivers

   Employee waivers will be restricted effective Fall 2024. All employees currently in the program or admitted prior to Fall 2024 and actively completing courses will be approved to continue to receive an employee waiver through the completion of their degree, but no new employee waivers will be approved. Employees must remain in good standing and be actively enrolled in 6 credit per University semester to retain their waiver.

   For the 2023-2024 academic year, employees who are actively enrolled before May 15, 2024 and remain in good standing will receive a waiver that will cover $375 per credit hour of Program Tuition up to, and not to exceed, 6 credit hours per University 16-week semester. Employees will be responsible for the remaining amount billed, which is $445 per credit for the non-waivable tuition and fees. Additionally, if a student on employee waiver exceeds 6 credit hours per University 16-week semester, they will be responsible for paying the full amount for those credit hours ($820 per credit hour after 6 credit hours).

   For more information on Faculty and Staff Tuition Waivers available at WVU, please visit the Graduate Education and Life Tuition Waiver Restrictions website.

   This information has been updated, effective as of May 15, 2024.

   
   
6. Graduate Assistant Tuition Waivers

   Students enrolled in online programs, including the Master of Arts in Game Design and Music Business and Industry, and the Master of Science in Data Marketing Communications, Digital Marketing Communications and Integrated Marketing Communications, are ineligible to receive graduate assistantships effective in Fall 2025. Graduate assistants who are contracted in Fall 2024 will be approved to continue their positions through Spring 2025, but no graduate assistant waivers will be approved after Spring 2025. Graduate assistants waivers cannot be extended into Fall 2025, even for GAs who have not completed their studies.

   For the 2023-2024 academic year, graduate assistant waivers will cover $375 per credit hour of Program Tuition up to, and not to exceed, 9 credit hours per University 16-week semester. Graduate assistants will be responsible for the remaining amount billed, which is $445 per credit for the non-waivable tuition and fees. Additionally, if a student on a graduate assistant waiver exceeds 9 credit hours per University 16-week semester, they will be responsible for paying the full amount for those credit hours ($820 per credit hour after 9 credit hours).

   Effective for all GA positions in Fall 2024 to Spring 2025, students must request and receive approval PRIOR TO ACCEPTING any assistantship position for which they will receive a waiver of tuition. This includes positions that were already held in Spring 2023. Students and/or the hiring manager of the GA position must contact Assistant Dean of Online Programs, Chad Mezera, at chad.mezera@mail.wvu.edu for more information on what is needed to receive approval for the GA waiver. Waiver requests submitted through the tuition waiver request form but which have not received prior approval from the college will not be approved after Summer 2024.

   For more information on graduate assistant options available at WVU, please visit the Graduate Education Assistantships website. To understand the restrictions based on your program, visit the Tuition Waivers page.

   This information has been updated, effective as of May 15, 2024.

   
   

Important Information about the Financial Aid Process

To allow sufficient time for processing, submit the FAFSA at least 4 weeks prior to the term in which you want financial aid.

In order to have aid processed in a timely manner, you must accept any aid offered to you that you wish to use. Information about your financial aid is available through the MIX/STAR system—Mountaineer Information Xpress (MIX) and Student and Technology Achieving Results (STAR). The WVU Financial Aid Office uses your MIX email to communicate with you. If you do not have your MIX email formally set up, then please contact the WVU Financial Aid Office directly, 304-293-5242 or https://financialaid.wvu.edu , to inquire about your financial aid.

You must be pursuing a master’s degree. Financial aid is not available to non-degree students or students in graduate certificate programs.

Students who use federal loans will have to complete a promissory note and review loan counseling information if there is no record of previous borrowing through federal programs.

Financial aid may be adjusted if you alter your enrollment during the fall/spring/summer terms or if you do not earn at least one passing grade in a term. Previously awarded aid may be adjusted if you obtain additional funding that was not originally part of your financial aid package. Adjustments to financial aid can result in the need to return funds to WVU.

You must maintain a certain level of academic progress in order to retain potential eligibility for aid, also known as satisfactory academic progress. Students must successfully complete 67% of all attempted credits and maintain at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average. For more details review the entire policy on satisfactory academic progress for graduate students.

Questions about financial aid?

Contact our Enrollment Specialist at wvuimc@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-6278.