Financial assistance makes college more affordable, but applying for financial aid can feel intimidating. Don’t let lack of information or confusion about the financial planning process prevent you from qualifying for financial aid. Johnson & Wales University (JWU) Online’s supportive student services team is here to help you navigate the financial planning process every step of the way.
Read on to learn about sources of financial aid, tips for applying for financial aid, and how having one-on-one assistance from a dedicated academic advisor and financial planning representative will support you from filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to managing financial assistance throughout your program.
Is A College Education Worth The Cost?
Lifetime earnings in the U.S. population correlate with the level of education attained.
According to The Pell Institute (2026), “The higher the degree attainment, the higher the lifetime earnings. This earnings premium is greater than cost of the education to attain a bachelor’s degree.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that the best employment outcomes are for those who hold higher educational degrees.
A Dedicated Financial Planner Personalizes The Process
Once you have been accepted to JWU Online as a student, you will be connected with a dedicated personal financial planner who will be your contact throughout the program. You will be able to call or email your financial planner directly whenever you have any questions.
Your financial planner will explain financial aid terminology, guide you through the FAFSA application process, build your financial aid package, present all the financial aid options you are qualified to receive and send targeted texts to alert you to deadlines. Your financial planner and your academic advisor work together to make sure that financial aid is matched to your course load each semester and important deadlines are met.
Stacy Bateni, Financial Planner explains, “The total years’ experience the financial planners have at JWU Online help with providing each student the best financial opportunities, knowledge and resources. The internal relationships we have formed by being able to work with all departments under one roof have been a great success and are extremely helpful in certain situations when needing quick answers. We know each student’s situation is different, and we strive to assist with each of them accordingly.”
“In my experience, there are no walls between admissions representatives, student advisors, financial planners and teachers — everyone works together to provide a warm and friendly atmosphere.” – Rasheeda Brooks Johnson ’24, M.S. Human Resources
Financial Aid Is Available
High school students are leaving money on the table.
Student financial aid statistics indicate that while 85.5% of first-time college students benefit from some form of financial aid, public programs are underutilized.
The National College Attainment Network’s (NCAN) reports, “Pell Grants Left on the Table,” estimates billions of dollars available as Pell Grants are unused each year because high school students don’t complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
High school students may think they don’t need financial aid, perceive the process as overly complex, or believe their family’s income will disqualify them from receiving aid.
First generation students lack guidance from family members unfamiliar with the process because they haven’t attended college. 56.9% of students enrolled at JWU Online during 2025-26 reported first-generation status.
Adult learners (25+) may not recognize they have access to financial aid.
At JWU Online, the average age of students enrolling during 2025-26 is 32 (undergraduate) and 33 (graduate). They may see financial aid information directed at high school students and think there is no money for them.
In a 2026 report, the Online and Professional Education Association (UPCEA) asserts, “We see the transformative power of a postsecondary credential for an adult balancing career and family … There’s a persistent myth in higher education that financial aid is a resource reserved for first-time, full-time students. This misconception creates a psychological and financial barrier for millions of adults who believe they are ineligible for support. The reality is quite different. The money is there, but for various systemic and cultural reasons, it isn’t reaching the people who need it most.”
Complete The FAFSA Form To Qualify For Financial Aid
Colleges use the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is calculated from the information you provide on your FAFSA form, to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
Bateni explains, “Eligibility depends on dependency status, academic program, satisfactory academic progress, prior federal aid, citizenship/eligible noncitizen status, loan history, and possibly other requirements.”
You may be surprised to learn that there is no set income cutoff for federal student aid. Your primary home is also not counted as an investment asset, but cash, checking, savings and certain investments may be reported. Every student’s situation is different. Complete the FAFSA to find out what federal, state and school-based aid you may be eligible for.
Financial Assistance Is Available At JWU Online
A range of financial aid products are available, including scholarships and grants that do not require repayment. To view eligibility requirements and to apply, please visit our scholarships and grants page.
Scholarships
Career Catalyst Scholarship – NEW
- Johnson & Wales Online proudly introduced the Career Catalyst Scholarship for the Fall 2026 term. Available for students pursuing a JWU undergraduate degree, applicants who apply for the scholarship and gain admission to eligible undergraduate level programs at JWU Online will automatically be considered for the 20% tuition scholarship.
Graduate Success Scholarship
- Eligible applicants to graduate level programs can apply for a 20% tuition scholarship to select programs.
“I returned to JWU Online to earn the MBA degree because of the quality of education I received in the bachelor’s program, the professionalism of the advisors and the passion the professors have for teaching. The Graduate Success Scholarship qualified me for a 20% discount, which made earning the MBA affordable for me.” – Michael Yates ’23, ’26, MBA – Event Leadership
Wildcat Alumni Scholarship
- JWU alumni can qualify for a 25% tuition scholarship towards an eligible graduate or doctoral degree.
Returning Success Scholarship
- Former JWU students who have not been enrolled for two or more years may be eligible for a 25% tuition scholarship towards tuition at JWU Online.
Additional Scholarship Listings
- iGrad: Accepted JWU students can sign up for iGrad and search for scholarship opportunities.
Grants
Federal Pell Grants
- These are awarded to undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2026-27 award year (July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027), and your eligibility is based on the completion of the FAFSA application.
Employer Reimbursement
- Participating in an Employer Reimbursement program is another way to help pay for your tuition. Talk with your company’s human resources department, or if your employer partners with Guild Education for tuition assistance, consult Guild support directly. You can also contact your JWU Online financial planner to coordinate other sources of aid with the employer’s contribution.
Corporate Partnerships
- JWU extends a tuition discount to benefit-eligible employees of our educational partnership organizations. Criteria, eligibility and application processes can vary based on individual partnerships. Learn more about our current partnership organizations or inquire about the partnership opportunities.
Federal Direct Loans And Private Loans
- Direct Subsidized Loans: Available based on financial need; the government pays the interest while you study at least half-time.
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans: These loans are not based on financial need, and interest accrues during all periods.
- Private Loans: The university advises exhausting grants, scholarships and federal loans options before exploring private loans.
Military Benefits
- Johnson & Wales participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon military tuition assistance program, which means we help veterans, current armed forces members and their spouses and dependents take advantage of the benefits available to them.
The GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at Benefits.va.gov/gibill.
3-Year/90-91-Credit Bachelor’s Degrees
JWU Online offers 90-credit Career-Focused B.S. Criminal Justice and B.S. Hospitality Management degrees and a 91-credit Career-Focused B.S. Computer Science degree. Approved by the New England Commission for Higher Education, these new programs provide a rigorous and comprehensive education and are designed to be completed in three years instead of the traditional four years. The actual time to completion depends on the number of courses taken each semester.
“(I enrolled because) the university’s reputation really stood out to me. The 90-credit hospitality program was a perfect fit for where I was academically. I transferred previous college credits, so the accelerated program will allow me to finish my degree in about two years rather than starting over.” – Valerie Cook ’27, B.S. – Hospitality Management
Transfer Credits
JWU Online’s liberal transfer credit policy saves time and money toward your degree by giving you maximum credit for your previous college-level education, life experiences, and more. We accept most previously earned college credit from regionally and nationally accredited institutions.
Payment Plans
JWU Online’s programs are 100% online, enabling adult learners to balance work and family responsibilities with coursework while earning their degree. Where scholarships, grants and employer contributions don’t fully cover tuition, students working full-time may opt for monthly or semester plans to pay tuition without loans.
The university offers various payment plans, including monthly and semester payment plans. Students who choose payment plans are responsible for making payments on time, so as not to incur late fees or other charges. Your financial planner will explain all of the options and help you choose a payment plan that works for you.
“When I transitioned to JWU Online and could work full-time, I was able to make payments toward my tuition. As proud as I am of being a JWU alum, I am also proud that by working while in school, I was able to graduate with no student loans.” – Chloe Perren ’25, B.S. – Hospitality Management
Tips To Successfully Apply For Financial Aid
The first step is to gather information needed to complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA Checklist outlines the application process and tells you what information you will need to complete the form. Your dedicated admissions representative can answer questions or walk you through the application process.
Create your FAFSA ID.
You can set up and manage your FAFSA account on your computer or phone — although you may not be able to access certain features on your phone if you have special circumstances.
Decide which family member needs to contribute information.
You can check your dependency status to determine if your spouse or parents/guardians need to provide their financial information. If have further questions, you can use the “who counts as a parent” tool.
Each person who is required to add information to your FAFSA form — your spouse or parent (biological or adoptive), or in some cases a parent’s spouse — will need their own StudentAid.gov account. If you are required to include contributors’ information, you can invite them by email to your form. Each contributor receives a secure link to complete their section, making the process more user-friendly and reducing the risk of mistakes.
Make it easy to transfer your financial information.
Students and their spouse or parents who filed a U.S. tax return with the IRS are now able to access the IRS tax return information to transfer the data needed directly into their FAFSA form.Once you are logged into your online account, go to the tax and financial section to access The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT).
Verification
If you are asked to verify, you may need to supply additional information.
Appeal
If you are denied financial aid, you have the right to appeal. If your family has had a change in income, medical expenses or job loss, ask your financial planner for help in putting together an appeal to negotiate your aid offer.
Personalized Assistance Eases Stress When Life Changes
During her first years in the Fashion Merchandising & Retailing bachelor’s degree program, Mikala Schimke ’26 was grateful to her employer for paying her tuition. When she elected to leave the company to make an exciting career change, she needed a plan to pay for tuition on her own.
Schimke had good reason to be wary of the financial planning process. Prior to enrolling at JWU Online program, Schimke had attended an institute that engaged in predatory loan practices.
“Going from the security of having my tuition paid, to having to pay tuition out of my own pocket, felt scary, says Schimke. “I emailed my academic advisor, Maureen Coutu, to confirm I had left the company. She knew exactly how to handle the situation, which made me feel confident we’d figure out how I’d pay for the remaining year at college.
“Marybeth Dempsey made the financial planning process simple. She explained every possible resource available to me clearly and concisely, so I could make an informed decision. I opted for a payment plan.
“Marybeth partnered with my academic advisor to look at my class load. When I planned out my courses with Maureen, I sent a copy to Marybeth so that together we could plan out payments.”
Schimke says in part her life experience as a 35-year-old helped her anticipate what situations might come up — she asked a lot of questions. However, she says, “I don’t think the outcome would have been any different if I had less experience. Marybeth watches everything closely.
“I didn’t need reminders that my payment date was coming — I’d never missed one — but Marybeth sent them because it was her way of staying connected and supporting me. I benefitted from good planning and really great support. I was able to pay off my tuition as I completed my program.”
Enjoy A Supported Academic Journey At JWU Online
To get started on your academic journey at JWU Online, complete the Request Info form, submit a free application or connect with a member of our dedicated admissions team at [email protected].