Online Finance & Funding Guide

Tuition rates and fees are published at Spartan Central. The published charts display tuition rates and fees by credit hour on a per semester basis. To calculate tuition costs, students must know their planned study format, how many credit hours they plan to enroll in each semester, and how many semesters it will take for them to complete their program of interest.

Tuition Differential
Bryan graduate courses have additional tuition differential fees which help provide services like career coaching, professional development, business partnerships, alumni connections, and more to Bryan graduate program students. Tuition differential rates vary by program.

Estimated Program Costs

To simplify planning and help prospective students get a better understanding of their financial investment, Bryan School Graduate Programs have calculated and published the total estimated program costs according to past students’ average pace and length of study.

The estimated costs for each program can be found on their program webpage (links below):

MBA Program Costs	MS in IT & Management Program Costs
MS in Accounting Program Costs	MS in International Business Program Costs
MS in Retail Studies Program Costs	MA in Applied Economics Program Costs
Graduate Certificates Program Costs

Tuition Rate Categories

In-State	Out-of-State	Out-of-NC
Applies to students who are residents of NC.	Applies to students taking classes while located within the state, but are not residents of NC.	Applies to students taking online classes while located outside of the state, and are not residents of NC.

There are three tuition rate categories, because the State of North Carolina partially subsidizes tuition costs for residents of North Carolina. Residency status is determined by NC Residency Determination Service.

For more information about Tuition Rates, contact the Cashiers & Student Accounts Office (336-334-5831, cashier@uncg.edu).

Students’ fee bills include tuition and fees for enrolled courses, therefore a student must complete the following steps before they receive a fee bill or set up financial aid:

1. Submit and complete the graduate program application
2. Receive admission and confirm enrollment plans
3. Meet with an academic advisor and register for classes

Bryan School graduate programs are on rolling admissions, and applicants can expect to receive an admissions decision within 2-4 weeks of submitting their complete graduate program application. For maximum funding consideration, early application is strongly encouraged.

Approximate Fee Bill Timeline for New Graduate Students

	Fall Enrollment	Spring Enrollment	Summer Enrollment
Course Registration	Begins late April	Begins mid-November	Begins mid-February
Fee Bills Sent	Begins Early July	Begins mid-November	Begins mid-April
Payment Due	Early August	Early January	Early May

For more information about the Billing process, contact the Cashiers & Student Accounts Office (336-334-5831, cashier@uncg.edu).

The Cashiers & Student Accounts Office accepts direct payment via the following formats:

• Credit Card
• Electronic Check (bank draft)
• Mail (checks and money orders)
• In-Person (cash, check and money order payments)
• International bank transfer

Payment Plans

After a student receives a fee bill, they have the option of setting up a Monthly Payment Plan through the Cashiers & Student Accounts Office.

Payment plan options vary based on when they are set up. Available payment plan options include:

• 5 payments – Requires 20% deposit
• 4 payments – Requires 25% deposit

After a deposit is made, subsequent payments will be due monthly. All options have a $40 setup fee. Monthly payment plans can also be used by students with graduate assistantships. Payment plan options vary depending on when the plan is set up.

For more information about payment arrangements, contact the Cashiers & Student Accounts Office (336-334-5831, cashier@uncg.edu).

Some employers offer full or partial graduate program tuition benefits. Employer-sponsored students may be able to defer payment of a balance covered by the third party by setting up a third-party payment arrangement with the Cashiers & Student Accounts Office.

Examples of Previous Employer Contributors to Graduate Program Tuition

Arch MI	Spectrum	GXO Logistics, Inc.
Cone Health	Deloitte	Hanesbrands
Truist	First National Bank of PA	Johnson & Johnson
MetLife	NC A&T University	NC SECU
Renfro Brands	TE Connectivity	WFMY News 2

For more information or to set up a third-party payment arrangement, contact third_party_billing@uncg.edu.

Veterans and military-affiliated students receiving benefits through the VA are eligible to receive financial aid according to their student type. Depending on your specific VA program, your benefits may count toward their total aid eligibility. Military deferment payment plans are also offered by the Cashiers & Student Accounts Office.

For more information about using military education benefits, contact the UNC Greensboro Military-Affiliated Student Services Office (336-334-5632, military@uncg.edu).

Federal Financial Aid is available to students who meet the following criteria:

• US Citizens and some others
• Enrolled at least part-time (4.5+ credit hours or more)
• Enrolled in an approved graduate program

Types of Aid

The following types of Federal Financial Aid are available for Bryan School graduate programs:

• Federal Direct Student Loans
  $20,500 (annual max), $138,500 (lifetime max)
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
  For students interested in borrowing above annual or lifetime limits
  No income requirements, but must pass a credit check

Please note that graduate students are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants and state need-based grants.

Application Process

To request Federal Financial Aid, students should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once admitted to a graduate program, the financial aid office will contact eligible applicants with a current FAFSA on file.

Approved Bryan School Graduate Programs

MBA	MS in Accounting	MS in Retail Studies
MS in International Business	MA in Applied Economics	MS in IT & Management
Business Analytics Graduate Certificate	Business Foundations Graduate Certificate	Cyber Security Graduate Certificate
Economics of Health Analytics Graduate Certificate	Global Fashion Industry Management Graduate Certificate	Global Leadership & Strategy Graduate Certificate
IT Development Graduate Certificate	Quantitative Business Economics Graduate Certificate	Retail Consumer Data Analytics Graduate Certificate
Retail Merchandising Management Graduate Certificate	Supply Chain Management Graduate Certificate	Taxation Graduate Certificate

For more information or questions about Federal Financial Aid, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (336-334-5702, Contact Form).

UNCG & Bryan School Scholarships

UNCG and Bryan School scholarship opportunities are limited and highly competitive, and early application is strongly encouraged. There is no separate application for scholarships, and all incoming students are considered for scholarships based on the information submitted in their online graduate program application.

Bryan School scholarships range from $500 – $2,500 per year.

Priority Application DeadlinES for Scholarship & Financial Aid Opportunities

Spring Enrollment	Summer Enrollment	Fall Enrollment
No priority deadline	March 1	March 1

UNCG & Bryan School Scholarship Award Notification

Scholarship decisions are made after admissions decisions and notifications are sent throughout the year. For maximum scholarship consideration, applicants should submit their complete graduate program application as soon as possible.

Scholarship Universe

Scholarship Universe is a powerful database of external scholarship opportunities that matches UNCG students with eligible scholarship opportunities based on the information provided within their online profile. Applicants can access the platform by completing the following steps:

1. Obtain your UNCG login credentials: When an applicant is admitted to their graduate program, they will be invited to complete their Intent to Enroll form (linked within their admission letter). After confirming their plans to enroll, applicants will receive their UNCG login credentials.
2. Login to Scholarship Universe: Once received, applicants can use their UNCG login credentials to access Scholarship Universe by visiting uncg.scholarshipuniverse.com.
3. Create a Profile: After completing a brief profile, applicants will be matched with scholarships they are eligible to apply for.

A graduate assistantship (GA) is the opportunity to earn a stipend by working on campus up to 18 hours per week. Example GA positions include research assistant, marketing/recruitment assistant, and administrative assistant. The average stipend for Bryan School GA is $3,500 per semester.

Bryan School GA positions are limited and highly competitive, and there is no separate application for Bryan School GA positions. Applicants can indicate their interest in a Bryan School GA position from within the online graduate program application.

Priority Application DeadlinES for Graduate Assistantship Opportunities

Spring Enrollment	Summer Enrollment	Fall Enrollment
No priority deadline	March 1	March 1

Graduate Assistantship Award Notification

GA decisions are made after admissions decisions and notifications are sent throughout the year, therefore early application is strongly encouraged.

Once admitted to a graduate program, students can also apply for other university-wide GA positions through Spartan Talent.

Housing and Living Expenses

The cost of living in Greensboro, North Carolina is less than the national average (US News). Greensboro residents pay roughly the same amount as the average American for everyday expenses like groceries and utilities, but housing costs are lower than in many other major metro areas.

Estimated Annual Housing and Living expenses

Housing	$7,400 – $9,500	Learn more about graduate student housing options: Housing & Residence Life website.
Health Insurance	$800 – $2,800	Learn more about the health insurance requirements: Student Health Services website.
Meals	$4,200	Learn more about on campus meal plan options: SpartanCard website.
Total	$12,400 – $16,500

Financial Documents & Visa Process

Although they are listed within the online graduate program application for international applicants, financial documents are not required until after an applicant is admitted to their graduate program. International applicants will receive instructions on the visa process within their graduate program admissions letter.

The Global Engagement Office will help guide accepted international applicants through the visa process. Their website includes a step-by-step overview of the visa process:

In order to obtain an I-20 form and request a student visa, accepted applicants must certify that they have available financial resources to support a full course of study for one academic year as determined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS). In 2023, the total minimum budget as determined by the USDHS was $41,283. The minimum budget amount is used exclusively for the I-20 process. To show proof of funding, applicants must provide a Graduate Financial Certificate, a Bank Statement, an Affidavit of Support, and a copy of their passport.

Additional Scholarships for International Applicants

The Global Engagement Office has also created a guide to help international students make a plan to fund their education:

For more information on the visa process and to download the required forms, visit the Global Engagement Office website, email geo@uncg.edu, or call 336-334-5404.

Other Funding Opportunities

To assist international students with funding their degree programs, UNC Greensboro has partnered with Prodigy Finance. International students enrolled in an approved full time, on campus program can apply for loan funding which can be used to pay for tuition and living expenses. Prodigy Finance provides flexible international student loan options with no required collateral or cosigner.

Approved Bryan School Graduate Programs

MBA	MS in IT & Management
MS in Accounting

Once admitted, international applicants can complete the online application for funding from Prodigy Finance:

For more information or questions, contact Prodigy Finance (866-533-3304, info@prodigyfinance.com)

Employment Opportunities

In addition to the graduate assistantship positions mentioned above, international students are also eligible for the following employment opportunities:

• On-Campus Employment: International students are eligible to work in student-facing, on campus positions.
  • Once admitted to a graduate program, students can apply through Spartan Talent or Handshake.
  • Example positions: Admin. Support Associate, Tech Support Technician, Shuttle Bus Driver
• Off Campus Employment: After one year of enrollment, international students may also be eligible for off-campus employment. More information is available on the Global Engagement Office website.

Scholarships

• “Apply early for as many scholarships as possible. If you submit your application on the day before window closes, your application will still most likely get declined even though it was not late.”
• “Apply for scholarships from professional organizations in your chosen field.”
• “Apply for every available opportunity. You never know if you will get something unless you apply. As a grad student, I was happily surprised when I received a scholarship from a UNCG donor.”

Graduate Assistantships

• “Be proactive about cultivating relationships with faculty from your department and maintain excellent grades! These two things open students up to graduate assistantship opportunities which are really helpful in financing grad school.”
• “Be sure to get a good understanding of exactly what you are getting from your department beforehand.”
• “If you are eligible for an assistantship, ask how long it is guaranteed.”
• “If you are receiving a scholarship, how much is available and if this amount will change based on number of students or if there is preference given to a certain demographic over another?”
• “Remember, even though you may never use the resources on campus, you still have to pay all the fees, so account for that.”

UNCG Undergraduate Students

• “Take advantage of the accelerated master’s program for UNCG undergraduate students. It helped me financially because I was paying for one class but the credit applied to both degrees. Another perk is that I get to graduate sooner.”

Employer Funding

• “Ask your employer if they will help fund your education.”
• “Go to work for an employer who will pay for your education.”

General Advice

• “Make a budget and use the payment plan option so the cost isn’t a shock to your wallet and savings.”
• “Make a plan B in case you do not get the funding you expect.”
• “Make a plan for paying tuition and fees before joining the program – it can be a combination of loans, scholarships, or any other means.”
• “Explore your health insurance options to save money. I recommend the pay-as-you-go plan. It’s a very affordable option!”
• “Only borrow what you need, even though it’s tempting to borrow the max, you do have to pay it back and it adds up quickly.”
• “Loans are not necessarily a bad thing. They can also help supplement funds if you are doing full time classes and can’t work full time.”
• “Make a plan for textbooks and material costs. Look into potential tax advantages of taking a loan.”
• “Calculate your total out-of-pocket expenses for the program so you have a good idea of your costs.”
• “Look into available tax credits for out of pocket expenses. The ROI makes going to UNCG sensible. It is a great investment. This is one of the more affordable programs and the classes are excellent.”