Paying for Your College Education
Earning your degree is one of the most important investments that you will ever make. Financial aid programs available for undergraduate and graduate degree students — ranging from adult student loans to college scholarships for adults — can help make it possible for you to realize that investment. If you weren't able to attend college after graduating high school, you can still receive financial aid as a non-traditional student!
A significant majority of college students in CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies qualify for financial aid.
The financial aid options available to adult learners in CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies are designed to make earning your degree both affordable and accessible for those in challenging financial situations. In addition to helping you explore your student financial aid options and how to pay for an education, the University will walk alongside you to develop the best possible degree plan that meets your needs as an adult student and ultimately helps you achieve your goals.
Types of Financial Aid for Adult Students
Financial aid for adult students and graduate students is designed to help bridge the gap between college costs (tuition, fees, books, etc.) and what you are able to pay for those costs. It is important to understand the difference between the types of financial aid, as well as research all available options to maximize your investment.
- Scholarships — Because scholarships are a type of aid that does not require repayment, you should explore the full range of scholarship opportunities for your degree program. Adult student scholarships may be offered directly by the college/university, or they may be offered through other venues, such as scholarship search engines. (Be sure to visit our list of recommended free scholarship search engines.)
- Grants — Similar to scholarships, grants are a type of aid that does not need to be repaid. Grants are typically offered by the government, both federal and state. To be considered for any type of grant, like a federal Pell Grant, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early in their college search process as possible. Colorado residents may qualify for additional grants toward their undergraduate degrees.
- Education Loans — Students may need to consider borrowing money from a lender to help pay for their education. Education loans are a type of aid that must be repaid and often come with considerable interest rates, therefore, they should be considered after exploring scholarship programs and grant opportunities.
Be sure to research financial aid options and available tuition assistance to receive the greatest value for your college investment. Start with Applying for Financial Aid.
Stretching Your College Investment Dollars
In addition to applying for financial assistance, students in our College of Adult and Graduate Studies have access to a range of financial aid options that can help reduce college costs, depending on their financial needs.
- If you have already completed college coursework and plan to go back to school, you may be closer to your degree than you think. CCU honors your previous accredited college coursework toward your completion of an undergraduate degree, as well as offering specific transfer credit options for Colorado Christian University. (Graduate students should refer to the transfer policy for their specific graduate program.)
- Adult undergraduate students may be able to earn college credit for life experience through our Prior Learning Assessment program.
- CCU gives you the opportunity to earn credit through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DSST, a fast and economical way to accumulate credit for general education and elective credit hours toward your bachelor's degree.
- CCU provides a range of educational benefits for military service members and veterans, including reduced tuition for undergraduate programs, education credit for Basic Training and other formal military educational experience, and convenient class locations at several Colorado bases.
- You can take courses at any of our locations throughout Colorado, offering you convenient class locations near home or work.
- To help you defray travel costs, CCU offers many online degree programs.
Be sure to explore all of CCU's Payment Options that can also contribute toward making your higher education experience affordable. Contact Student Financial Services for more information about eligibility requirements, enrollment, and the application process.