Institutional Aid

Institutional Aid

The University of Fairfax offers a variety of financial aid in the form of grants, and fellowships to qualifying students. Our financial aid office can work with you to maximize your eligibility for institutional aid.

Financial Aid Solutions Tailored to the Individual Student

To ensure that qualified and deserving applicants are given adequate financial assistance, our Financial Services Team will sit down individually with prospective students to identify available sources of financial assistance; some through the federal or state government and others through the University. We are committed to supplying possible funding solutions for those who qualify.

If you are wishing to receive federal or state aid, be sure to fill out a Free Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) online at: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
For more information, see our Application Steps
or call the financial services hotline at 1-833-388-1100
today.

Use the U.S. Department of Education’s Net Price Calculator to estimate academic costs at our institution.

• Use this Net Price Calculator.

FEDERAL PELL GRANT

This program was established for undergraduate students with financial need who have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree. Student eligibility is determined according to a formula established by the federal government. For the 2026-2027 award year, the Federal Pell Grant annual award is up to $7,395 for a full-time student. Eligible students who attend less than full-time or who attend less than the full award year are eligible to receive a reduced award. Beginning with the 2017-18 award year, eligible students may receive up to 150 percent of their Federal Pell Grant Scheduled Award. To be eligible for the additional Pell Grant funds, the student must be enrolled at least half-time in the payment period(s) for which the student receives the additional Pell Grant funds in excess of 100 percent of their scheduled award.

Students apply for this program by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The completion of the FAFSA results in the calculation of a Student Aid Index (SAI)*, which is used along with other factors to determine the student’s eligibility for this grant. These factors include the academic year structure of the University, the student’s enrollment status, and cost of attendance. Pell eligible students may receive no more than the equivalent of 12 semesters of full time Pell disbursements during their lifetime. The amounts received under the 150 percent provision will be included in determining the student’s Pell Grant duration of eligibility and Lifetime Eligibility Used. Additional eligibility requirements for future award years will depend on the federal rules in place at that time.

*An increased Pell amount is awarded to otherwise Pell-eligible children of soldiers whose parent or guardian died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, if the student was less than 24 years old when the parent or guardian died or was enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of the parent or guardian’s death, and who has a Pell-eligible SAI greater than 0.

IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN SERVICE GRANT

This program was established for non–Pell Grant eligible children of military personnel killed as a result of service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, if the student was less than 24 years old when the parent or guardian died or was enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of the parent or guardian’s death, and who meets all other criteria for Pell Grant eligibility. Awards are made under the same terms and conditions as for Pell Grant and disbursements are calculated in the same manner as for Pell Grants.

FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT

This program was established for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree. Priority is given to Federal Pell Grant eligible students with the lowest Student Aid Index (SAI) figures (based on the federal formula). Awards are made in the amount of $150 for each term of the award year. All undergraduate academic programs at ANU meet the institutional eligibility requirements. Students apply for this program by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadlines published each year. Availability of funds depend on the authorization given to the University by the federal government.

FEDERAL DIRECT LOANS

Federal student loans are made available to students attending college on at least a half-time basis through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is the lender. All programs at University of Fairfax are approved to participate in the Federal Direct Loan Program. Within this program, there are two types of federal student loans – direct subsidized loans and direct unsubsidized loans. A student may qualify for one or both depending on the student’s need and other factors. In general, the federal government pays interest on Direct Subsidized Loans while attending school at least half-time, for the first six months after leaving school (referred to as a grace period) and during a period of deferment. However, this benefit does not apply to all borrowers. See the Financial Aid Office or go to www.studentaid.gov to determine whether, and under what circumstances, the interest subsidy benefit applies to you.  Students with Direct Unsubsidized Loans are charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. The maximum amount of federal student loans that can be borrowed depends if the student is an undergraduate, a graduate or professional student or parent.  An undergraduate student can borrow each academic year in Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loan in the range from $5,500 to $12,500, depending on the year in school and dependency status. A graduate or professional student can borrow up to $20,500 each academic year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans.   Graduate students are ineligible for Direct Subsidized Loans but may borrow through the Direct Unsubsidized Loan program.

If the student is a first-time borrower on or after July 1, 2013, some students’ Direct Subsidized Loan eligibility is limited to a time period equal to 150% of the length of their program. This is called the “maximum eligibility period” .  The maximum eligibility period is based on the published length of the program of study.  This means that the maximum eligibility period can change if the program of study changes.  The published length of each program can be found within the academic section of the catalog.

Please go to https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized for more information regarding annual and aggregate loan limits and other financial aid information. Interest rates, fees, and loan limits are subject to legislative changes that may affect continuing eligibility. After a student graduates, leaves school or enrollment status goes below half-time the grace period will begin.  During this period, repayment information will be sent to the student by the loan servicer. Payments are usually due monthly and will be discussed with the student and the loan servicer when determining the repayment arrangements.   The loan servicer will provide the options available to repay the federal student loan.

Students may complete and submit the application for federal student aid, complete entrance counseling and sign the master promissory note at https://studentaid.gov. Note that Federal Stafford Loan information is submitted to the National Student Loan Data System, and information about the loans is accessible there to certain guaranty agencies, eligible servicers and eligible institutions of higher education.

FEDERAL DIRECT PLUS LOANS

All academic programs offered at the institution meet the Federal institutional eligibility requirements. Graduate students and parents of undergraduate dependent students are eligible to apply through the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program. Such loans are available for students attending the University on at least a half-time basis through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program. The Department of Education is the lender of this loan program. These Direct PLUS  loans enable borrowers to borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other financial assistance received. The cost of attendance is determined by the University.  Eligibility is determined, in part, upon the credit history of the borrower. A credit check is performed during the application process.   Students and parents may complete and submit the application for federal student aid, complete entrance counseling and sign the master promissory note at https://studentaid.gov

Students and parents can request a deferment of loan repayment while the student is enrolled at least half-time and for an additional six months after the student graduates, leaves school or drops below half-time enrollment. If a deferment is not requested, payments will begin after the loan is fully disbursed (paid out). Repayment is made in monthly installments until the loan is paid in full.

Interest rates, fees, and loan limits are subject to legislative changes that may affect continuing eligibility. Additional information is available at www.studentaid.gov. Graduate students must complete entrance counseling prior to the receipt of a loan disbursement. Parent borrowers in certain, limited situations may have to complete entrance  counseling as well. You may contact your Financial Aid Office for more information.

The Department of Education website, provides more information regarding annual and aggregate loan limits.

“Note that Direct PLUS Loan information is submitted to the National Student Loan Data System, and information about the loans is accessible there to certain guaranty agencies, eligible servicers and eligible institutions of higher education.”

PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT: SPECIAL AND UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES

On a case-by-case basis, University of Fairfax (UF) has the discretion to assess extenuating circumstances that currently impact the student’s cost of attendance, the data utilized for calculating their Student Aid Index (SAI), and/or their dependency status. The purpose of professional judgment is to ensure that students receive an appropriate amount of financial aid to meet their educational expenses based on their individual circumstances. It provides flexibility for financial aid administrators to consider factors beyond the standard formula, offering a more accurate representation of a student’s financial need.

The following are a list of types of requests and some examples of extenuating circumstances:

• Request for Special Circumstances for change to the Cost of Attendance – This may include an increase of childcare costs, increase of commuting expenses required for the program of study, increase of rent and utilities, and/or increase of purchasing special books and supplies.
• Request for Special Circumstances for change to the Student Aid Index (SAI)) – This may include loss or significant change in parents’ and/or dependent student’s income;  loss or significant change in student’s (or spouse’s, if married) income;  excessive medical and dental expenses for most current tax year (not covered by insurance) in excess of amount included in the Federal Methodology Formula (required method of calculating the SAI.)
• Request for Unusual Circumstances – This includes a dependency override or a parent refusal status based on the student’s situation and determination is made based on the documentation submitted. If the situation warrants confirmation, the University may require documentation from a third party, e.g. teacher, counselor, medical authority, member of the clergy, prison administrator, government agency or court to establish the unusual circumstances.

Forms are available at the Financial Services Office and will be forwarded to the student as soon as requested. Documentation to support the extenuating circumstances must be received no later than 60 days of enrollment to be considered. UF will review requests and communicate results to students as soon as practicable.

PRIVATE/EDUCATION LOANS

Who is Eligible?

You may be eligible for institutional aid if you:

• Complete a University of Fairfax Application
• Obtain admission to the University of Fairfax

How to Qualify?

• Institutional aid is based upon merit and/or need
• Students qualify for only one institutional scholarship or fellowship at a time

Grants & Scholarships

Business Partnership Grant

The Business Partnership Grant was designed to provide additional assistance to students receiving employer tuition assistance, who are attending the University in order to obtain new job skills or to upgrade existing job skills.

Eligibility: Eligible students are identified through association with a company that has entered into a tuition assistance agreement with the University. Continued eligibility is dependent on the continued receipt of employer tuition assistance. This award is not available to those who are enrolled as international students on active SEVIS status (F1/F2, H1B/H2B, etc.) or working on CPT/OPT.

Application Process: Eligible students and their employers will complete the Business Partnership Grant application, available by contacting the Financial Services Office, and will return the completed application to the Financial Services Office.

Award: Awards are made up to $1 for every $2 of employer tuition assistance received and granted after all other aid has been applied.

Blue Ribbon Grant

The Blue Ribbon Grant is designed to recognize and assist veterans, active-duty military personnel, spouse and dependents by providing additional grant funds upon the exhaustion or expiration of military education benefits to support the individual to enhance their educational benefits.

Eligibility:

The University of Fairfax provides a grant of up to 35% of the total amount that was paid toward the direct cost of education on behalf of an individual qualified by the Veterans Administration under Chapter 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606, Military Tuition Assistance or State National Guard. (MYCAA recipients are not eligible)

Award:

Eligible students who have accumulated Blue Ribbon grant up to a maximum of $18,000 may use this grant to extend or complete their programs of study or assist a current spouse or qualified dependent at the University of Fairfax. The earned accumulated grant amount may be utilized to pay tuition and fees at University of Fairfax in any academic program or degree level. The grant funds must be used within 10 years of the last day of the term the Blue Ribbon Grant was earned.

The military student who have earned the grant may elect to transfer the earned grant to a current spouse or qualified dependent under the age of 30.

International Doctoral Grant

The International Doctoral Grant is designed to enhance collaboration between educational institutions and facilitate continued higher education for international students. It is available to international F-1 students who enroll into a doctoral program at the University of Fairfax.

Initial Eligibility: International F-1 students who have met the following criteria may qualify for this scholarship.

• Be in good standing with Department of Homeland Security and;
• Have met the requirements for admissions to an eligible doctorate program at University of Fairfax.

Application Process: Applicants will automatically be considered for this grant upon submission of a completed University of Fairfax international student application and the appropriate application fee.

Award: Eligible students will be awarded $262 per course for the doctorate degree level. Scholarship payments are applied directly to students’ tuition and fee charges on their student accounts.

Continued Eligibility at University of Fairfax:

Continued eligibility from term to term is contingent on students’ continuous enrollment at the university. However, students who have had an interruption in their attendance due to a return to their home country for visa purposes or health issues may have the requirement for continuous enrollment waived and be eligible to receive the remainder of their award. Such students should discuss their situations with their Dean who will forward the information to the Executive Vice President of Operations who will make the final determination of eligibility.

The certification of receipt of the International Doctorate Grant will be based upon the date that the application for admission is received by an International Admissions Officer. The award year for the grant is defined as July 1st to June 30th. The total amount of funds allocated by University of Fairfax for the grant is $350,000 each award year. The availability of the grant will be evaluated at the end of each calendar year.

This grant cannot be combined with any other grants or scholarships and is not available to students in the PhD in Computer Science and Engineering degree program.

Refer A Friend Grant

Sharing the University of Fairfax experience just got even more rewarding! Through our Refer a Friend Grant, current students have the exciting opportunity to help friends, family, or colleagues take the next step in their education—while giving them a head start with a $750 grant. When an applicant student that is referred by a current student, enrolls at University of Fairfax, they will receive a $750 grant applied directly to their first term. It is a great way to support someone’s future while helping build a strong and successful community.

Grant Eligibility & Terms
To qualify for the Refer a Friend Grant, the following conditions must be met:

For the Referring Student:

• •Must be enrolled at University of Fairfax during the term the referred student begins enrollment.

For the Referred Student:

• Must be a first-time applicant to University of Fairfax.
• Must list the referring student’s name on their application or during the admissions process.
• Must meet all university admissions requirements.
• Must be enrolled for at least half-time enrollment (minimum of 6 semester credit hours) during their first term.
• Will receive a $750 grant applied directly to their first-term tuition balance.
• Will receive the grant regardless of multiple referrals (only one grant awarded per eligible student).
• The Grant is a one-time award and is non-renewable.
• The Grant is awarded to the recipients may only be credited to their accounts and used to assist with the payment of their tuition and are not redeemable in cash.
• The Grant cannot be combined with any other institutional grants or scholarships.
• The Grant is only awarded if the referred student remains enrolled until the final week of their first term.

We are proud to grow our community through the enthusiasm and outreach of our students. Help someone start their journey—refer a friend today!

University Transfer Grant

The University Transfer Grant is designed to enhance collaboration between educational institutions and facilitate continued higher education for international students. It is offered to students from Universities and Colleges or English as a Second Language programs within the United States who transfer their I-20 to University of Fairfax or its affiliates. The grant is a lifetime maximum award of $1,000, credited to the student’s account during their first term of enrollment, and is non-renewable. The lifetime maximum award may be exceeded by an additional $1,000 in the event a student transfers to University of Fairfax or its affiliates due to the completion of a degree. This grant may not be combined with any other grant or scholarship program and is available to students who enroll before May 15, 2027.

University Legacy Merit Scholarship (Alumni Scholarship for Domestic and Non-I-20 Students)

University of Fairfax is committed to supporting lifelong learning and honoring the dedication of its graduates. The University Legacy Merit Scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable merit award of $1,000, created to encourage former students who have completed a degree at UF to return and pursue a second or higher degree at the university or its affiliates.

To be eligible for the merit scholarship, applicants must have earned a prior degree from University of Fairfax with the following minimum credit hours and GPA:

• Bachelor’s Degree: 84 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Master’s Degree: 18 credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Doctorate Degree: 9 credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 or higher

Additionally, students must enroll in a new program within one year of completing their previous UF degree to remain eligible. The scholarship is awarded as a lifetime maximum of $1,000, credited to the student’s account during their first term of re-enrollment. In cases where a student transfers to University of Fairfax or one of its affiliates following the completion of a degree, the lifetime maximum may be increased by an additional $750. This scholarship may not be combined with any other institutional scholarship program and is available only to students who enroll before May 15, 2027. This scholarship serves as a token of appreciation for our alumni’s continued trust in UF as their partner in education.

University Legacy Merit Scholarship (Alumni Scholarship for International Students)

University of Fairfax is proud to support its international alumni who continue to pursue academic and professional advancement. The University Legacy Merit Scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable merit award of $1,000, designed to recognize and assist international students (on an active I-20 status) who have previously completed a degree at UF and return to pursue a second or higher degree at the university or its affiliates.

To be eligible for the merit scholarship, applicants must have earned a prior degree from University of Fairfax with the following minimum credit hours and GPA:

• Bachelor’s Degree: 84 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Master’s Degree: 18 credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Doctorate Degree: 9 credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 or higher

The scholarship is awarded as a lifetime maximum of $750, credited to the student’s account during their first term of re-enrollment. In cases where a student transfers to University of Fairfax or one of its affiliates after completing a degree, the lifetime maximum may be exceeded by an additional $1,000. The scholarship cannot be combined with any other scholarship program and is only available to students who enroll before May 15, 2027. This scholarship supports our legacy of education and global connection, continuing the tradition of excellence for our international alumni.

Fellowships

As part of our commitment to support the continuing growth and development of the University of Fairfax, it has established and funded the following fellowships to be awarded to eligible doctorial students of the University of Fairfax. These fellowships are based upon fund availability at the rate of $134 per credit hour.

Computer Science Research Fellowship

Computer Science Research PhD Fellowship Fund is available to students from around the globe designed to encourage and support promising doctoral students who are engaged in innovative and relevant research in areas related to computer science and engineering. The University Fellowship can be awarded at any stage of their PhD study. Applicants are evaluated by academic achievement, motivation, and the strength of the student’s research statement. Students must remain in good academic standing and meet financial obligations to the University in order to continue to receive disbursements each session towards their tuition. The committee will be reviewing qualified applicants for the Fall semester and can award up to 10 fellowships for the academic year.

Information Security Certification Fellowship

The University has established an Information Security Certification Fellowship Fund for degree-seeking applicants who hold selected, recognized information security certifications such as CISSP, CISM, and CISA. This Fellowship serves to encourage information security professionals to advance their careers in order to increase the security of public and private information systems. Only active certifications held prior to enrollment in a University of Fairfax degree program are eligible for consideration. Students must remain in good academic standing and meet financial obligations to the University in order to continue to receive Fellowship disbursements.

FISMA Fellowship

The University has established the FISMA Fellowship Fund to support research that is needed to improve FISMA compliance. Preference is given to individuals who demonstrate the capability and motivation to undertake FISMA compliance-related projects. FISMA Fellowship awards are based on merit and/or need. Students must remain in good academic standing and meet financial obligations to the University in order to continue to receive fellowship disbursements.

Cyber Policy Fellowship

To support and encourage cybersecurity professionals to address cybersecurity policy level challenges, the University has established the Cybersecurity Policy Tuition Fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to qualified and motivated students who wish to address cybersecurity challenges and advance their cybersecurity careers. Students must remain in good academic standing and meet financial obligations to the University in order to continue to receive disbursements each session towards their tuition.

Cybersecurity Crisis Fellowship

In recognition of the persistent global cyber security crisis, the Cybersecurity Crisis Fellowship has been established to help prepare future professionals in their efforts to protect business and government data systems.

For more information on how to apply and qualify for institutional aid, please request a personal consultation.