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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

    WVU employees are welcome to apply to the Marketing Communications Online Programs, for the master’s degree or the graduate certificate program. WVU Graduate Education and Life allows eligible employees to receive waivers for a maximum of one graduate certificate in addition to one master’s degree and one doctoral degree.

    WVU employees who are admitted as students in the Data Digital or IMC program will be eligible to receive a waiver equivalent to the University tuition portion of their total tuition for Data Digital or IMC coursework. Payment of the remaining Program Tuition and Online Learning Fee is the student’s responsibility.

    For the 2020-2021 academic year, employee waivers 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).

    In order to apply as a University tuition-waived student, applicants are required to identify themselves as qualified to receive an employee University tuition waiver on the graduate application by indicating that they currently work for WVU.

    Admission to the program is competitive. The Data, Digital or IMC program reserves the right to deny admission to any employee applicants who do not meet the qualifications required by the program.

  6. Graduate Assistant Tuition Waivers

    Students in the Data, Digital or IMC program who secure a graduate assistant position at any academic or non-academic unit on campus will be eligible to receive a waiver equivalent to the University tuition portion of their total Program Tuition for Data, Digital or IMC coursework, as well as any stipend/compensation offered by the unit hosting the position. Payment of the remaining Program Tuition and Online Learning Fee is the student’s responsibility.

    For the 2020-2021 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).

    For more information on graduate assistant options available at WVU, please visit the Graduate Education Assistantships website.

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.