Financial Aid
Our Financial Aid Office is available to help you apply for Federal and State Financial Assistance as well as Institutional Aid and Private Student Loans. The responsibility of financing your education lies with you and your family. The Federal Financial Aid Program is available for students who qualify and is based upon your financial need. Our Financial Aid Office will guide you through the application process. You can reach us by e-mail at FinancialAid@cdu.edu or by phone at 304-724-5000, ext. 733.
There are several types of aid available, including various state, federal and private student loan programs as well as gift aid including grants and scholarships. CDU participates in the Federal Pell Grant program and the Federal Direct Loan programs. To qualify for federal student aid (grants and loans), you have to meet certain requirements. The Department of Education outlines necessary basic eligibility requirements to qualify for federal student aid. Additional aid for our military students may be found on our military assistance page.
Federal Financial Aid must be reapplied for each academic year using the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). CDU’s FAFSA school code is 041242. Students must be fully accepted into an eligible program to receive Federal Financial Aid.
Institutional Aid
Students enrolled in one of our academic degree programs are eligible to apply for institutional aid. To apply for institutional aid, students must first submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) (if eligible). After submitting the FAFSA (if eligible), students should submit the CDU institutional aid application. For those students not eligible for the FAFSA, you may submit the CDU institutional aid application only. Institutional aid is awarded based on need, merit and enrollment load. For questions on the institutional aid applications, please contact FinancialAidApp/@cdu.edu.
For the purposes of Federal Financial Aid, full-time status for undergraduate programs is considered 12 credits in a 16-week semester. Full-time for graduate programs is considered 6 credits in a 16-week semester.
Information and Policies
ADD/DROP AND WITHDRAWAL PERIOD
All students will have a drop/add period. Students will be permitted to add courses through 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Friday of the first week of each term, and they will be permitted to drop courses (with no W on transcript) through 11:59 pm Eastern time on Friday of the second week of each term.
OFFICIAL WITHDRAWALS
In order for a student to be considered an Official Withdrawal, the student must provide official notification of the intent to withdraw from Catholic Distance University. A student may terminate enrollment in an individual course or withdraw from a program at any time by notifying the university. Withdrawal requests should be emailed to the Registrar at registrar@cdu.edu or mailed to the Registrar’s Office at 300 South George Street, Charles Town, WV 25414.
WITHDRAWAL DATE
The withdrawal date for an official withdrawal is defined as the date the student begins the official withdrawal process or provides written notice of their intent to withdrawal.
UNOFFICIAL WITHDRAWAL
Students who do not provide official notification to Catholic Distance University of their intent to withdraw are considered unofficial withdrawals.
WITHDRAWAL DATE
If the student ceases attendance without providing official notification due to circumstances beyond the student’s control, the withdrawal date is the date the school determines is related to that circumstance. For students that do not return from an approved leave of absence, the withdrawal date is the last date of attendance of an academically related activity. The withdrawal date for all other instances where a student withdraws without providing official notification is the mid-point of the payment period or the last documented date of attendance at an academic event, whichever is later.
DATE OF DETERMINATION
The Date of Determination for students who are considered unofficial withdrawal is the latter of the student’s official withdrawal date, or the date of notification. For student’s who do not officially withdrawal the date of determination is no later than 30 days after the end of the earlier of the:
- Payment period
- Academic year
- Student’s educational program
Students who utilize financial aid, should understand the necessity of loan repayment, familiarize themselves with the terms of their loan, and be prepared to complete entrance and exit counseling. It is important to borrow responsibly and know your rights and responsibilities . Borrowing wisely is the key to financial success. Students planning to use loans to help finance their education are encouraged to visit the studentaid.gov website for valuable information and tools to assist students in making informed decisions about student loans.
National Student Loan Data System
If you are a potential student, student or parent of a student and have entered into an agreement concerning Title IV loans we are required to inform you that the loan will be submitted to the National Student Loan Database. The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) central database for student aid. NSLDS receives data from schools, guaranty agencies, the Direct Loan program, and other Department of ED programs. NSLDS Student Access provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data.
Additional Resources
Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling
Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling must be completed by anyone who is a first-time borrower of the Federal Subsidized, Federal Unsubsidized, or PLUS Loan. Entrance counseling is meant to provide the borrower with enough information to understand the terms of borrowing student loans. Students should also follow the link to review Direct Loan Basics for Students.
Catholic Distance University ensures that Loan Entrance Counseling is completed at the Federal Student Aid website, www.studentloans.gov. Students must go the website and login to complete their Entrance Counseling session.
Entrance counseling includes, but is not limited to, explanations on topics such as:
- Use of a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
- Importance of repayment
- Consequences of default
- Sample repayment schedules
- Borrower’s rights and responsibilities
- Information on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
- Borrower’s maximum eligibility periods
- Responsibility for all accruing interest on Federal Direct Loans
- Borrowing aid wisely
Federal Direct Loan Exit Counseling
Catholic Distance University will notify students via email of the requirement to complete loan exit counseling online at the Federal Student Aid website, studentloans.gov, within 30 days of their withdrawal, enrollment of less than ½ time, or completion of their program.
In addition, students are directed to review exit information outlined in the Federal Exit Counseling Guide for Federal Student Loan Borrowers, which can be found at https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/exit-counseling.pdf
Exit counseling includes, but is not limited to, explanations on topics such as:
- Use of a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
- Repayment obligation
- Consequences of default
- Sample repayment schedules
- Borrower’s rights and responsibilities
- National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
- Possible loss of eligibility for additional Direct Subsidized Loans
- Borrowing aid wisely
Understanding the repayment process for your federal student loans can go a long way toward building a solid financial foundation. Deferment offers a way for you to temporarily postpone or lower your loan payments while you’re back in school, in the military, experiencing financial hardship, or in certain other situations. Reach out to our financial aid office or your loan carrier if you need assistance with loan repayment.
A recipient of Federal Title IV financial aid who withdraws from school during a payment period or period in which the student began attendance will have the amount of Title IV funds he/she did not earn calculated according to federal regulations (34 CFR 668.22). Any student who withdraws will have Pell Grant recalculated based on the number of credits the student attempted. The percentage of Title IV financial aid that is earned for a payment period is the number of calendar days the student has been enrolled for the payment period up to the day the student withdrew, divided by the total calendar days in the payment period.
The percentage is multiplied by the amount of Title IV financial aid for the payment period for which the Title IV financial aid was awarded to determine the amount of Title IV financial aid earned. The amount of Title IV financial aid that has not been earned for the payment period, and must be returned, is the complement of the amount earned. The amount of Title IV financial aid earned and the amount of Title IV financial aid not earned will be calculated based on the amount of Title IV financial aid that was disbursed or could have been disbursed for the payment period upon which the calculation was based.
Once the amount of Title IV financial aid that was not earned has been calculated, federal regulations require that the school return a portion of the unearned funds equal to the lesser of the institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of funds or the entire amount of unearned funds in the following order:
- Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans
- Subsidized Federal Direct Loans
- Federal PLUS Loans
- Federal Pell Grants
If the amount of unearned Title IV financial aid disbursed exceeds the amount that is returned by the school, the student (or parent, if a Federal PLUS Loan) must return or repay, as appropriate, the remaining amount. Any loan funds that must be returned by the student (or parent for a PLUS loan) are repaid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the promissory note. If the student is required to return unearned grant funds, the student is required to return the amount of the unearned grant funds that exceeds 50 percent of the grant funds received.
If the amount disbursed to the student is less than the amount the student earned, he or she is eligible to receive a post-withdrawal disbursement of the earned aid that was not received. The school will notify the student and or parent of post-withdrawal disbursement once an amount can be determined.
Withdrawal from the Program
You may withdraw from the school at any time after the cancellation period and receive a pro rata refund for the current course if you have completed less than 60 percent of the scheduled days through the last day of attendance in that course
For the purpose of determining a refund under this section, a student shall be deemed to have withdrawn from a program of instruction when any of the following occurs:
- The student notifies the institution of their intent to withdrawal and does not give confirmation that they will return for a future course within the same semester.
- The institution terminates the student’s enrollment for failure to maintain satisfactory progress, failure to abide by the rules and regulations of the institution, absences in excess of maximum set forth by the institution, and/or failure to meet financial obligations to the School.
- The institution identifies the student never started a class. The student fails to return from a leave of absence.
For the purpose of determining a refund under this section, the date of withdrawal is defined as the date the student begins the official withdrawal process or provides written notice of their intent to withdrawal. If the student ceases attendance without providing official notification due to circumstances beyond the student’s control, the withdrawal date is the date the school determines is related to that circumstance. The withdrawal date for all other instances where a student withdraws without providing official notification is the mid-point of the payment period or the last documented date of attendance at an academic event, whichever is later.
Refunds must be paid within 45 days of the date the institution determines the student to have withdrawn. This date is the latter of the student’s official withdrawal date, or the date of notification. For student’s who do not officially withdrawal the date of determination is no later than 30 days after the end of the earlier of the:
- Payment period
- Academic year
- Student’s educational program
NOTE: A student who is on an approved leave of absence may not receive a loan disbursement, but may retain in-school status for the purposes of Title IV loans. However, the student should be aware that if he or she does not return from an approved leave of absence, the grace period of the loan may decrease, as the withdrawal date is set retroactively
For example, if a student withdraws on the thirtieth day of a semester 100 days in length, the student will have earned 30 percent of the aid received (30/100 = .30). The unearned 70 percent would be subject to the return policy and would have to be repaid within 45 days.
In order to be considered to be making satisfactory progress towards a degree, a student must both maintain quantitative (completion ratio) and qualitative (GPA) standards. The student’s progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester (~ (17) weeks) they are enrolled. If the student’s cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) or completion rate is less than the minimum required at that point in the student’s program the student will be placed on a SAP Warning. The student may receive financial aid due during the warning period, but if the student fails to achieve the required grade average or completion rate at the end of the following evaluation period, the student will be SAP cancelled and no longer eligible for financial aid for that program.
At the end of each semester, the student’s cumulative grade average will be determined and must meet the required minimum GPA listed in the chart below. If the student has less than the average specified in the following chart based upon the number of evaluation periods of attendance, he or she will be placed on FA Warning for one evaluation period. If at the end of the FA Warning evaluation period the student does not regain satisfactory performance the student is SAP Cancelled and is no longer eligible for financial aid until they achieve satisfactory performance.
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*Credits listed are for undergrad full-time students reference
In addition to maintaining the grades specified above, a student must successfully complete two-thirds of the credit hours attempted. Attempted credit hours include completed courses, failed courses, repeated courses, withdrawn courses, and incomplete courses as well as those that received a grade of A, B, C, D, F. A student’s completion rate is measured at the end of each semester of enrollment. If the student has not completed two-thirds of the cumulative credit hours attempted to date based on the chart above, the student will be placed on warning. If at the end of the following evaluation period, the student has still not raised the completion rate to two-thirds of the cumulative hours attempted, the student will be SAP cancelled. It should be noted that students are expected to complete the requirements for their courses in the scheduled time frame, but in no case may the credit hours attempted exceed 1.5 times the credit hours required to complete the program (e.g., 120 credits required for undergraduate degree x 150% = 180 credits). Program maximum time frame is defined as 1.5 times the credit hours required to complete the program. If at any point it is determined the student is unable to complete the required courses for their program without exceeding the maximum time frame, the student is SAP cancelled and no longer eligible for financial aid for that program.
APPEAL PROCESS
Appeal Process If a student fails to make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) after the warning term, he/she may file an appeal on the basis of: injury, illness, the death of a relative, or other special circumstances with appropriate documentation. The appeal must explain why he/she failed to make SAP and what has changed in his/her situation that will allow him/her to make SAP at the next evaluation. A record of the appeal and the final determination will be maintained in the student’s file. The Appeal Committee will review the student’s appeal and special circumstances. If the appeal is granted, a student will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress and aid will be awarded on a term by term basis. The student will be assigned a status of Financial Aid Probation. In some cases, the student will require more than one term to meet the SAP standards. If the student has been placed on Financial Aid Probation, an academic plan must be developed that would ensure that the student will be able to meet the SAP standards by a specific point in time. The committee will review the student’s progress at the end of each academic period. If the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan, the student is eligible to receive Title IV federal financial aid as long as the student continues to meet those requirements and is reviewed according to the requirements specified in the plan.
TRANSFER CREDITS-QUALITATIVE
A student’s program GPA is calculated using only grades earned at CDU in courses that are applicable to the student’s program. Transfer credits do not apply when calculating the student’s GPA at CDU. Transfer credits include credits for all courses not completed at CDU that are applied toward the completion of the student’s degree program.
TRANSFER CREDITS-QUANTITATIVE
Credits taken at other institutions and applied toward the student’s program at CDU are included in both attempted and completed hours when measuring the student’s pace toward completion.
PROGRAM CHANGES
Students who change programs at CDU are re-evaluated to determine which credits apply to the new program. Only credits that apply to the new program are counted. The student’s SAP status will be reset with an effective date of the program change and will be evaluated at the end of each completed semester in the new program. If the student changes back to a program he or she was previously in, the student’s SAP status will reflect the status of the original program.
REPEAT COURSES
Grades for prior attempts are excluded when calculating the qualitative component (GPA). However, credits from all attempts are included when assessing if the student meets the quantitative component (Credits). Although a student may successfully complete a course more than once, only the first passing grade is counted as a completion when calculating the quantitative component.
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
CDU evaluates SAP for the program based on completed weeks and credits of the semester, regardless of whether or not the student is enrolled concurrently. All credits completed at CDU applicable to the primary program will apply toward the primary program’s GPA.
Federal Pell Grant.
Federal grant that is based on need. This award is gift aid and does not need to be repaid.
Students must be enrolled at least ¼ time to be eligible for a Pell Grant in an undergraduate program. Graduate students are not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant
Eligibility is based on need.
Federal loan that is based on need. This award is borrowed aid and must be repaid. Students must be enrolled at least ½ time to be eligible for the Subsidized Direct Loan Program. Principal and interest may be deferred until after student leaves college or attends less than half time. Payment is deferred until six months after student leaves the University or attends less than half time.
Federal loan that is not need based. This award is borrowed aid and must be repaid. Students must be enrolled at least ½ time to be eligible for the Unsubsidized Direct Loan Program. Principal and interest is not deferred while the student attends college. Payment is deferred until six months after student leaves the University or attends less than half time.
Dependent Undergraduates (with approved PLUS Loan)
| Subsidized | Additional Unsubsidized | |
| First Year | $3,500 | $2,000 |
| Second Year | $4,500 | $2,000 |
| Third Year and Beyond | $5,500 | $2,000 |
Independent Undergraduates & Dependent Students with Unapproved PLUS Loans
| Subsidized | Unsubsidized and
Additional Unsubsidized |
|
| First Year | $3,500 | $6,000 |
| Second Year | $4,500 | $6,000 |
| Third Year and Beyond | $5,500 | $7,000 |
| Graduate and Professional Students | $0 | $20,500 |
Credit-based loan for parents of dependent undergraduates. The loan can cover educational costs up to the cost of attendance.
Credit-based loans for parents of dependent students or independent students. Rates and conditions vary by provider.
Benefits provided for Veterans and Dependents of Veterans. Benefit is based on service provided to military branches. Contact the Veterans Administration or a Veterans Service Officer for information.
DIRECT LOANS
First-Time, First Year Borrower:
Disbursements will be made 30 days after the academic year or program start date and again at 14 days after the beginning of the second module in the semester. All subsequent disbursements will be made 14 days after the beginning of the module.
Subsequent Borrowers, Parent PLUS Loans, and Graduate PLUS Loans
All disbursements will be made 14 days after the beginning of the module.
NOTE: ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE RECORDED ATTENDANCE IN THE CURRENT MODULE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A DISBURSEMENT.
FEDERAL PELL GRANT
All disbursements will be made 14 days after the beginning of the module.
STATE AND INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS VARY
Dependent on individual requirements
PRIVATE LOANS VARY
Dependent on individual requirements
• AA in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Catholic Studies (CIP code 24.0101)
• AA in Theology with a Concentration in Catholic Social Teaching Español (24.0101)
• BA in Theology (CIP code 39.0601)
• MA (Theology) (CIP code 39.0601)
• MA in Theology and Educational Ministry (CIP code 39.0601)*
• MA (Theology Spanish) MAESTRÍA EN TEOLOGÍA CON ESPECIALIDAD EN DOCTRINA SOCIAL DE LA IGLESIA (CIP code 39.0601)
Students may apply for federal financial aid at any point prior to or during the term in which the aid is requested, so long as processing is completed prior to term end date. CDU encourages students to submit their FAFSA as soon as possible so they are aware of their available aid and financial obligations as quickly as possible. For the purposes of institutional aid, students must apply for aid by term start date. Institutional aid is processed on a first come, first serve basis until annual funding is exhausted.
Consumer Information
We have compiled key consumer information about our university to help prospective students make informed decisions regarding their education. Also, in compliance with state and federal regulations, we annually notify our students (via email and/or online campus electronic announcement) about the availability of this information. We invite you to review the following consumer information.
Click here to view information on accreditation on our website.
Cost of Attendance (COA) is established in accordance with The Higher Education Act of 1965 for use in determining Federal Student Aid eligibility. COA is the estimate of a student’s educational expenses for one academic year (two 17-week semesters). These budgets include direct costs, such as tuition and fees, and indirect costs, like room and board. Detailed direct cost information is available under the Admissions>Tuition and Fees tab on the website. Cost of attendance varies depending on your credit hour enrollment and housing status. Students are not allowed to receive aid that exceeds their cost of attendance. It is important to budget wisely and make responsible borrowing decisions.
2023-2024 COA Budgets
| Cost | AA/BA
Full-time Living With Parent (*) |
AA/BA
Full-time Living Independently (*) |
AA/BA
Part-time Living With Parent (**) |
AA/BA
Part-time Living Independently (**) |
MA
(***) |
| Tuition and Fees | $9,600 | $9,600 | $4,800 | $4,800 | $6,600 |
| Living Expenses (Housing and Food) | $3,312 | $8,576 | $3,312 | $8,576 | $8,576 |
| Other
(****) |
$3,370 | $3,370 | $1,910 | $1,910 | $3,010 |
(*) Direct Cost is based on 12 credits per semester, 24 credits per year.
(**) Direct Cost is based on 6 credits per semester, 12 credits per year.
(***) Direct Cost is based on 12 credits per year.
(****) Cost includes books/course materials/supplies, transportation, loan fees and miscellaneous personal expenses.
For the purposes of Federal Financial Aid and COA budgets, full-time status for undergraduate programs is considered 12 credits in a 17-week semester. Full-time for graduate programs is considered 6 credits in a 17-week semester. COA for students with enrollments that exceed standard full-time enrollment per year may be evaluated on a case by case basis upon request
Our net price calculator is available to help you assess your total cost of attending school.
Additional student financial statistics, including median loan debt as calculated by the Department of Education, may be viewed at College Scorecard.
Due to the limited time CDU has participated in Federal Financial Aid and the unique nature of the CDU student population, we provide the following median loan debt calculated for our graduates that utilized federal financial aid while attending CDU.
Calculated for students who graduated in 2020
| Degree Program | CDU Loan Debt |
| AA | $4,500.0.00 |
| BA | $2,550.00 |
| MA | $21,310.50 |
CDU is committed to achieving an alcohol and drug-free workplace. Details of the Drug and Alcohol policy can be found under the Policies section of the website and Catalog.
Click here to view the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) under the policy section of our website.
Catholic Distance University works directly with students throughout the entire Financial Aid process to ensure they understand their obligations for borrowed aid and thereby minimize the cohort default rate. CDU has been participating in the Federal Loan Program since 2016, and our current Federal Loan Cohort Default Rate as calculated by the Department of Education for the FY 2019 cohort is 4. This was issued as an unofficial CDR rate based on the number of borrowers.
Click here to view the Notice of Nondiscrimination in the policy section.
CDU reports graduation rates annually to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), as required by the U.S. Department of Education and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA). IPEDS graduation rates are for undergraduate first-time, full-time degree seeking students. This information may be viewed via College Navigator for the current reporting year.
Due to the unique nature of the CDU student population, very few of our students meet the IPEDS cohort definition for graduation rates. Accordingly, CDU provides the following information as a more useful tool for students to measure our success. The following completion rates include non-first-time, full-time and part-time degree seeking students and excludes noncompliant students.
Graduation Rates for 150% Time
| Program | Cohort Year | Program Duration | 150% Time Period | 150% Completion Rate | Average GPA | Average Time to Completion |
| AA | 2021 | 4 years | 6 years | N/A* | 3.76* | 3.8 yrs* |
| BA Completion | 2021 | 6 years | 9 years | 75% | 3.71 | 3.9 yrs |
| MA | 2021 | 5 years | 7.5 years | 71% | 3.78 | 4.2 yrs |
*After excluding non-compliant students, there were insufficient data to report on a current (2021) cohort for the AA degree program. Non-compliant students are defined as students that were provisionally accepted but did not complete full program acceptance requirements, are on academic probation or leave of absence, have an approved program extension or have an accounting hold on their account.
Effective learning requires a safe environment. CDU complies with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 1965 and the Safe and Drug Free Colleges and Communities Act and Amendments of 1989. As an educational institution offering 100% of our programs online, Catholic Distance University is exempt from the Clery Act compliance obligations, including the annual ASR.
Information on our student population is compiled and reported annually to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Detailed information can be found on the IPEDS website.
CDU is located in the State of West Virginia, which requires sex offenders to register with the State Police. West Virginia makes this information available to law enforcement agencies and to the public on a Sex Offender Registry. If you have trouble accessing this link try copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser: https://apps.wv.gov/StatePolice/SexOffender/Disclaimer?continueToUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.wv.gov%2FStatePolice%2FSexOffender
Catholic Distance University is committed to our students and hopes that all students are pleased with the education and service they receive at the University. In the rare event that a student is not satisfied, they may file a complaint according to the Complaint/Grievance Policy.
CDU encourages everyone to honor their civic duty and exercise their right to vote in national, state and local elections. Information about how you can register to vote or vote absentee can be found on the following website https://vote.gov/
Graduation Rates for 150% Time*
| Program | Cohort Year | Program Duration | 150% Time Period | 150% Completion Rate | Average GPA | Average Time to Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | 2023 | 4 years | 6 years | 60% | 3.4 | 3.4 years |
| BA | 2023 | 6 years | 9 years | 70% | 3.47 | 3.9 years |
| MA | 2023 | 5 years | 7.5 years | 71% | 3.8 | 4.5 years |
*After excluding non-compliant students, which are defined as students who were provisionally accepted but did not complete full program acceptance requirements, are on academic probation or leave of absence, have an approved program extension, or have an accounting hold on their accounts.
