Paying for School

Scholarships

When paying for school, it makes sense to first seek out the financial resources that will not lead to student debt.  ATSU offers all students the opportunity to apply for both internal and external scholarship opportunities.  As an incoming student, once you have been granted ATSU portal access, you may access Scholarship Universe, which allows you to view and apply for external scholarship opportunities at any time.  The internal scholarship application cycle opens from mid-January to mid-March each year for students.  Watch for email notifications that the scholarship application window is open and APPLY!

Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study is a program that allows students to work part time and get paid with federal funds.  Unlike loans, Federal Work-Study compensation is money you don’t have to pay back! If you are considering utilizing Federal Work-Study to assist with costs, make sure to indicate interest on your FAFSA. Then, for eligible students, Work-Study will be included in the final financial aid offer.  You may choose to take a Federal Work-Study position or to convert that offer to loan funds instead. Federal Work-Study is limited and runs as a first-come, first-serve program, with returning students receiving priority. Please watch your student email for more information.

Federal Loans

Once you have exhausted personal resources, scholarships, and Federal Work-Study, your next option for covering your costs is Federal Direct Student Loans.  The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces significant changes to Federal Student Loan regulations, including new borrowing limits, the elimination of the Grad PLUS Loan program, and adjustments to repayment options.

Please note that some details are still pending further guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. Our office is monitoring developments closely and will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.

Remember, loans are designed to assist you with your education-related expenses at ATSU.  Some students have families or family members to support, credit card bills, car payments, loan payments etc. These types of expenses are not included in the cost of attendance. Specific educational expenses may warrant additional assistance.  If at any time in your program, you have questions or are experiencing a financial concern, you can set up a one-on-one meeting with a member of the Financial Aid Advising Team. 

Private Loans

If the need exists for a student to utilize a private loan to fill the gap between what federal loans can provide and the ceiling of the student's Cost of Attendance,  ATSU utilizes FastChoice to deliver a preferred lender list.  The lenders and loan options presented in FASTChoice were selected for the competitive terms and benefits they provide to borrowers. ATSU has worked with these lenders in the past, and previous borrowers have had positive experiences working with them.  Please be sure to consider and compare the rates and terms of both Federal Direct student loan and private loan options when making your decisions.  Read the fine print so you can fully understand the commitment you are making.  Note that private loans, in combination with all other aid sources, cannot exceed a student's cost of attendance.