Online Student Consumer Information

Welcome to South University Online

Here you'll find the information you need to become an informed consumer of a South University education. From financial aid facts and forms to academic information including course information, text books, and catalogs, it's all on these pages. Explore our student consumer information pages, and if you are thinking about attending South University Online, go to our home page where you can learn even more about our campus. If you are a current student, you can log onto the Student Portal here.

Financial Aid Facts

At South University - Online financial aid is available to those who qualify. We're here to help you understand what you need to know to fund your education. If you want to speak with someone in person, please contact a financial aid representative at 888.444.3404.

The following links will help you find the information you need to finance your education.

Net Price Calculator (NPC)

If you are a first time student in college and planning to attend full time, please visit our Net Price Calculator to get an early approximation for your costs to attend South University Online. All financial results are only an approximation based on the information you will supply and cannot be considered an actual award. To be considered for federal or state (if applicable) financial aid, you must complete the FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid. The calculator is not intended for transfer, readmitted, international, graduate, part time or continuing students.

Financial Aid Guide

For detailed information on all financial aid awards, processes, and policies along with important federal resource information to better understand your financial aid eligibility rights and responsibilities, please refer often to our Financial Aid Guide. We also encourage you to contact your Student Financial Aid Advisor if you have additional questions or need any further clarification.

State Grant Assistance

South University, Online programs participate in eligible Georgia state grant/aid programs. To learn about potential grant programs and obtain further information, see Georgia’s Scholarship, Grant and Loan Programs | Georgia Student Finance Commission.

Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid information is published online and available in print upon request. Visit our Financial Aid Guide for more information.

Contact Information for Assistance in Obtaining Financial Aid

To contact a financial aid representative at the school, you can call 888.444.3404.

Student Lending Code of Conduct for Education Loans

Download a PDF of our student lending code of conduct for education loans here.

Entrance (Initial) Counseling for Student Loan Borrowers

Before receiving a student loan, first-time borrowers must complete an entrance counseling session. This quick and easy interactive counseling session provides useful tips and tools to help you develop a budget for managing your educational expenses and helps you to understand your loan responsibilities. This entrance counseling session can be found on the Direct Loan Servicing Web Site.

Exit Counseling for Student Loan Borrowers

Direct loan exit counseling will explain your rights and responsibilities as a direct loan borrower. Exit counseling information is also located on the Direct Loan Servicing Web Site.You will need to have your Social Security number and your FSA ID ready in order to log into this portion of the site.

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)

When a borrower receives a Federal loan or a Pell grant, the information must be submitted to the FSA ID | Your Account for Federal Student Aid. Information in NSLDS is accessible to schools, lenders, and guarantors that are authorized users of the data system. Students are also able to log in and access all of their federal loan and Pell grant information. Students will need to have their FSA ID in order to access their information.

Student Loan Information Published by Department of Education

Additional information about financial aid, including your specific loan information, can be found by visiting the Department of Education Financial Awareness Counseling page along with the Home | Federal Student Aid page.

Professional Judgment

Professional Judgement allows the University may exercise discretion to accommodate special or unusual circumstances, with respect to some aspects of financial aid eligibility and funding. Professional judgment allows the University to treat a student individually when the student has special or unusual circumstances not sufficiently addressed by standard procedures.

Special or Unusual Circumstances are conditions that apply to an individual student, not a class of students. The University does not have any categories of circumstances that apply automatically to students in those circumstances. Below are some examples of the circumstances that may be considered.

Special Circumstances may be due to:

Change in employment status, income, or assets
Change in housing status (e.g., homelessness)
Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school
Medical, dental, or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance
Child or dependent care expenses
Severe disability of the student or other member of the student’s household
Other changes or adjustments that impact the student’s costs or ability to pay for college

These are common situations but is not an exhaustive list.

Unusual Circumstances may include:

Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.); Legally granted refugee or asylum status;
Parental abandonment or estrangement;
Student or parental incarceration;
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Unusual Circumstances DO NOT include:

Parents refusal to contribute to the student’s education
Parents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verification
Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency

In all cases, a student or parent must request special consideration through professional judgment due to special or unusual circumstances. The student/parent must request such consideration in writing and provide the necessary dated supporting documentation to assist the institution in evaluating the circumstance for approving or denying the request. This documentation can be completed with the assistance of the student's financial aid advisor to ensure students and parents understand the requirements for each specific scenario.

Federal Direct Loan Application

View the Federal Direct Loan Application here. Be sure to read the promissory note before signing. You will be required to repay your loans.

Once you have completed your loan application, your lender will contact you. You may also want to take a moment to review our student lending code of conduct.

Remember: Your first step in the financial aid process is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. If you need more information about completing the FAFSA form, visit our financial aid resources page. Or, if you have not yet completed your FAFSA form, this link will get you started.

Student Lending Code of Conduct for Education Loans

Download a PDF of our student lending code of conduct for education loans here.

Financial Aid Cost of Attendance

The financial aid office uses an estimate of direct and indirect costs to determine for how much financial aid a student may be eligible. Direct costs include tuition, fees, some books and supplies and institutional housing. Indirect costs include estimates of other living expenses, transportation and personal expenses. Examples of the cost of attendance estimates used can be found here.

Loan Repayment Estimator

Please visit the Federal Student Aid website, here, for access to valuable loan calculators to get an idea of what your monthly loan payment might look like, depending on the repayment plan you choose. When it comes time to repay your loans, we suggest a plan that allows you to pay off your loans the fastest. Remember, the longer you take to pay off your loans, the smaller your monthly payment, but the more you will pay back in total dollars. Not all loans are eligible for all repayment plans. Private loan repayment plans are at the discretion of the lender. Please contact your Student Financial Aid Advisor if you have any questions.

Federal Direct Loan Repayment Plans

Depending on your overall federal loan amount that you need to repay along with your current financial situation, there may be different repayment options available to you. This federal resource will provide all of the information you need to be better informed of your repayment options for your federal loans. Options may include, Standard, Extended, Income Contingent and Income Based repayment plans, depending on your situation. Not all plans are available to all students. While we typically suggest choosing a plan that repays your loan the fastest, generally the Standard plan, the Income Based and Income Contingent plans might be best for you right now. If you have further questions, please contact a Student Financial Aid Advisor at the school for assistance. Please know that the federal government has the right to change the terms of each plan at any time, including eliminating and adding plans. Students also have the right to change plans, per federal regulations, as needed.

Financial Aid Changes

Every year, many of the federal aid policies, practices, and awards are up for review and approval by the federal government. The government also maintains the right to modify all federal aid policies at any time during the year should there be budgetary or regulation issues that need to be addressed immediately. Starting with the new financial aid award year that begins officially on July 1st, each year, the attached document highlights the pending changes in financial aid awarding and policy. The Financial Aid Office will be able to answer any specific questions regarding how these changes might or might not affect you and your financial aid award for the coming school year. Home | Federal Student Aid for additional information.

Financial Literacy

We encourage you to visit iGrad! for information and guidance on improving your financial knowledge. We strongly encourage our students to utilize iGrad's full library of resources including their updated short video presentations, relevant current articles on a wide array of financial topics, calculators, games, and a job search function, All of these resources will provide valuable tips and lessons for understanding financial aid and for managing all of your finances wisely. Some of the topics covered include financial aid processes and awards, paying for college; time management; credit management; preparing for life after college; and personal finance tips for undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

U.S. Military Education Benefits

We are committed to helping you—our military service members, veterans and your families—understand the financial investment you are making by pursuing a postsecondary education, along with helping you to understand and uncover the financial aid options for which you may be eligible. Our Military Brochure provides a summary of the most common military education benefits, including links to the federal sites for more detailed information.

In addition, the brochure describes the College Financing Plan (Financing ) that will be provided to you to assist you as you make the important decision to continue your education. A personalized Shopping Sheet will be created for you in accordance with the Principles of Excellence as outlined in Executive Order 13607. For illustrative purposes, please review the Financing Plan template prescribed by the Department of Education to participating schools; your Financing Plan will follow this format.

South University offer qualifying military students numerous military education benefits that can help you acquire the knowledge and skills you need to put your passion to work in business, health care, legal, criminal justice and creative arts fields. The Military Student Loan Benefits document provides you with an overview of the special benefits and repayment options for your student loans available from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Defense.

If you served on Active Duty, you might be eligible for education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. For example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for educational and housing expenses to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

If you are currently serving in the military, you may be eligible for funding offered through the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program. Check your eligibility status and the amount for which you qualify with your Service prior to enrolling.

If you are the spouse or child of a service member who is serving on active duty Title 10 orders in the pay grades of E1-E5, O1-O2, or W1-W2, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Department of Defense for education, training, and/or the occupational license and credentials necessary for a portable career.

If you are the spouse or child of a service member, you may be eligible for transfer of the service member's Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to you. For more information on these benefits, visit www.gibill.va.gov.

To learn more about educational benefits for military personnel and veterans, please begin with our military pages here.

The College Financing Plan Web Page

The Financing Plan is a model aid award letter designed to simplify the information that prospective students receive about costs and financial aid so they can easily compare institutions and make informed decisions about where to attend school. Further information on the Financing Plan can be accessed here.

The College Scorecard Web Site

A planning tool and resource to assist prospective students and their families as they evaluate options in selecting a school and is located at here.

The College Navigator Web Site

A consumer tool that provides school information to include tuition and fees, retention and graduation rates, use of financial aid, student loan default rates and features a cost calculator and school comparison tool. The College Navigator is located here.

The Paying for College Web Page

Which can be used by prospective students to enter the names of up to three schools and receive detailed financial information on each one and to enter actual financial aid award information. The tool can be accessed here.

Resolving Disputes

If you have tried to resolve a dispute you have about your Federal Student Aid and you have not been able to do so, you may need to contact the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group of the U. S. Department of Education.

By Phone: 877-557-2575

By FAX: 202-275-0549

By U.S. Postal Mail: U. S. Department of Education FSA Ombudsman Group 830 First Street, N. E. Fourth Floor Washington, D.C. 20202-5144

Online: https://studentaid.gov/feedback-center/

For Washington State residents seeking information and resources about student loan repayment or seeking to submit a complaint relating to your student loans or student loan servicer, please visit www.wsac.wa.gov/loan-advocacy or contact the Student Loan Advocate at loanadvocate@wsac.wa.gov.

Academics

At South University - Online our graduate and undergraduate academic programs are designed to help you develop skills that are vital to professional achievement.

The following links provide you with the information you need to understand what programs we offer, how our schools are accredited, and how much it will cost to attend our school so you can make the right decision about your education.

Average Credits Attempted Per Term and Average Time to Graduation

Note: The data below includes only programs or degree types that had continuously enrolled graduates to report. If a degree or credential type did not have continuously enrolled graduates, that is, if graduates did not complete the program from start to finish without interruption in their coursework, data for that credential type is not included or reported.

Certificate programs: On average and including transfer credits as applicable, continuously enrolled students complete the program in 19 months.

Associate degrees: On average and including transfer credits as applicable, continuously enrolled students complete the program in 18 months.

Bachelor degrees: On average and including transfer credits as applicable, continuously enrolled students complete the program in 50 months.

Masters degrees: On average, continuously enrolled students complete the program in 29 months.

Changing programs, taking remedial courses, taking time off from coursework, taking a leave of absence, registering for fewer hours or unsuccessful attempts at course completion may increase the total length of the program and overall cost of education. Transfer credits awarded toward your program may decrease the overall length and cost of education. Data reported is based on graduates in each program type and may not be indicative of future outcomes. Credential types with less than ten graduates are not presented.

Refund Policy, Requirements for Withdrawal, and Return of Title IV (Federal) Financial Aid

Our refund policy can be found on our Refund Policy document.

Academic Program Cost Sheet

Information regarding cost of each program can be found on our Program Cost Sheet.

Academic Programs/Educational Programs

Review the courses we offer by checking out our home page or you can view our Academic Catalog.

Additional information can be found in our Student Handbook .

Facilities

To find out more about our library and classrooms, explore our Catalog.

Faculty

Our faculty provide a nurturing atmosphere for our students. They foster a nurturing atmosphere where teaching methods are geared towards the success of our students. To learn more about our faculty, see our Academic Catalog.

Credit

Transfer of Credit Policies can be found by clicking here.

Privacy of Student Records – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

To find out more about your rights as a student, including the rights and procedures relating to your right to view your education records, review our FERPA Policy.

Student Diversity

Information regarding student diversity can be found in our Student Diversity document.

Accreditation and Licensing

Information regarding accreditation and licensing can be found here.

Cohort Default Rates

Here you can find the information on our persistence rates. Cohort default rates help to measure the percentage of students within a specific cohort who enter into repayment on federal student loans within a specific timeframe. The United States Government releases official data once per academic year, with the new rates scheduled to be released in September of this year. Please contact your Student Financial Services professional with questions regarding these rates.

Program Improvements

From time to time, it is important for academic programs to make improvements to their curriculum or teaching style to stay in line with industry standards and changes. You can find here information on all program changes, plans for improvement, and what the current plans might be to improve any academic program at this location.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

With specific guidance from our accrediting bodies and the federal government, the school has established a mandatory Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy in order to help provide guidelines for students in maintaining their academic progress towards completion of a degree. Failure to comply with the established SAP policy could result in a loss of financial aid eligibility along with eventual academic probation and dismissal. Please be aware that dropping courses, reducing course load and failing courses will negatively affect your academic progress. The school has established periodic checkpoints to monitor student progress and to provide early intervention and corrective measures when appropriate. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of and understand the current SAP policy, which can be found here, along with being available in the school catalog. Please contact your student academic advisor with any questions regarding the policy or to review your current academic standing.

Articulation Agreements

Many students have previous education experiences and may have earned credits at other institutions. We are providing a listing of the Articulation Agreements that we have entered into with other institutions that describe the courses that may transfer into program(s) at this campus. Articulation Agreements are developed to identify what specific courses (please note that sometimes there are also minimum grade requirements) will transfer into specific programs at this campus from other institutions under the circumstances described in the actual articulation agreements. An Articulation Agreement by itself does not mean every course will transfer into a program at this campus.

It is at the discretion of the receiving institution (campus) as to which credits will or will not be accepted for transfer. The student should review the Articulation Agreement to make sure they understand whether courses they wish to transfer in are included in the Articulation Agreement. Please contact a campus admissions representative, registrar or an academic advisor with any questions or for more detail on specific articulation agreements or to review the actual articulation agreement.

Students should understand that Articulation Agreements may be modified or eliminated by either the sending or receiving campus.

Online Programs Articulation Agreements:

COMPU MED VOCATIONAL CAREERS

Textbook Lists

A list of text books for the courses we offer can be found by clicking HERE.

Important Book Information

We provide ease and convenience in accessing all of your textbook needs.

Cash Management Contracts

South University, Online utilizes a third-party servicer, BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc., to provide stipends to our eligible students. Under the Title IV cash management regulations, institutions are required to publicly disclose any contract that governs a cash management arrangement, as well as information about the costs incurred by students who elect to use a financial account offered under this arrangement. To view this contract and Addendum, please visit: https://www.vibeaccount.com/swc/doc/landing/c6q5412c294qdn2c50p6. For a schedule of costs that may be incurred by the student, please refer to https://www.vibeaccount.com/studentaccount/feeschedules.do.

Eligible students are required to log into their profile on the BankMobile Disbursements web site and select their preferred stipend delivery method. The major features and assessed fees for each stipend delivery method, as well as the terms and conditions for selecting a financial account with the third-party servicer, may be found on the BankMobile Disbursements website. For more information about BankMobile Disbursements, visit this link: https://disbursements.bmtx.com/refundchoices/.

For information regarding mean and median costs incurred by a BankMobile Vibe student checking accountholder and any students who had an open Vibe account under the contract during the prior award year, please refer to the BMTX, Inc. Student Financial Account Fee Data and Monetary/Non-Monetary Considerations document. This document also provides information regarding monetary and non-monetary considerations paid by South University to BMTX, Inc. under the contract during the prior award year.

Student Services

Disability Services

Information regarding our disability services can be found here .

Security Alerts

In the event of an emergency, our alert system will be enabled where timely information and instruction regarding the status of the emergency will be provided. Students now can also receive emergency messages via email, mobile phone, home phone and text messaging directly to the communication device of each recipient's choice. Students simply need to update their personal profile in their Student Portal to begin receiving emergency messages.

Voter Registration for Students

United States citizens who are students of voting age can find voter information specific to their state of residence while attending school by clicking here.

Drug and Alcohol Policies

Policies regarding drug and alcohol use can be found in this document.

Vaccination Policy

Our vaccination policy can be found by clicking here.

Copyright Infringement Policies and Sanctions

Policies regarding copyright infringement and sanctions regarding violation of those policies can be found in our Intellectual Property Policy.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy

At South University, we take issues surrounding your health and safety very seriously. Information about our school security policies, crime statistics, crime logs, fire safety policies, fire statistics, and our fire log can be found in our Crime Report.

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Training

We are providing this training program to educate students, faculty, and staff about Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

This training provides information on several topics relevant to college life: sexuality, sexual violence prevention, dating/domestic violence and stalking prevention, bystander intervention, and discrimination prevention.

The training also provides resources for reporting and resolving violence. Our schools prohibit the crimes of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. These crimes will not be tolerated and will result in sanctions up to and including expulsion.

Loan Calculators

Loan Repayment Estimators

If you will be utilizing student loans to help pay for your education, we have provided a few loan calculators as helpful resources to get an idea of what your loan repayment options and amounts might be. All results are estimates based on information that you will provide and cannot be considered an offer or promise of any kind as to your actual loan repayment amounts. Loan amounts, interest rates, repayment plans and the length of repayment can all change and all will affect the actual monthly payment amount you may need to make along with your total amount repaid at the end of your loan terms.

Outside Resources

The College Scorecard Web Site

A planning tool and resource to assist prospective students and their families as they evaluate options in selecting a school and is located at here.

The College Navigator Web Site

The Paying for College Web Page

State Contact Information for Student Complaints

State consumer complaint contact information can be found here.

Student Success

Graduate Employment Statistics

The Career Services Department partners with students and graduates to seek appropriate employment during all stages of your education. To find out more about our employment statistics, including placement rates and average salaries, download our graduate employment statistics. When there, please make sure to have the right campus location and to select your program of choice.

Graduation/Completion Rates

The Student Right to Know Act as regulated by the Department of Education requires the publishing of graduation/completion rates.

Annual Retention Rates

Information on our annual retention rates can be found here.

Cohort Default Rates

Information on cohort default rates can be found here. Cohort default rates help to measure the percentage of students within a specific cohort who enter into repayment on federal student loans within a specific timeframe. The United States Government releases official data once per academic year, with the new rates scheduled to be released in September of this year. Please contact your Student Financial Services professional with questions regarding these rates.

Licensure Pass Results

Some programs either require or suggest that students pass licensing exams in order to move forward in their chosen field and career. For more information on specific requirements, test information, location and dates, please speak with your Academic Counselor. Here are the most current Licensure Pass Results for some of our programs.