Financial Aid

At King, we strive to ensure your education is affordable. Learn about your financial aid options and how to best finance your degree.

About Financial Aid

Financial aid is based on need and available for qualifying students. Students wishing to start an online degree program should apply as soon as possible to qualify for all available aid. Your financial aid documents must be complete prior to the course launch date, or you must make arrangements with the business office until financial aid is complete.

Applying for Aid

To apply for financial aid, complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. Our school code is 003496.

  • We encourage you to fill out your FAFSA when you apply for admission.
  • Once our financial aid office receives conformation of your acceptance into your selected program from the admissions office, our financial aid counselors will determine your financial aid eligibility.
  • You will receive a financial aid award letter detailing aid that you are eligible to receive.

Contact Financial Aid

If you have questions, contact the King University Financial Aid office at 423.652.4725 or email us at financialaid@king.edu.

Scholarships and Grants

TN Hope Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students

TN Hope provides $1,750 per semester to attend a four-year school. To be eligible for HOPE funds, you must file your FAFSA by September 1 for fall term and by February 1 for spring and summer terms.

Criteria:

  • Have been a Tennessee resident for one year by the time you submit your FAFSA application.
  • Be age 25 or older and:
    • Be an entering freshman in an eligible postsecondary institution; or
    • Have not been enrolled for at least two (2) years after last attending any postsecondary institution and are now enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution
    • Have student’s and spouse’s adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less on IRS tax form
    • Be continuously enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution in the fall and spring semesters and maintain satisfactory academic progress
    • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 after 12 attempted semester hours or required GPA at subsequent benchmark. (Attempted hours and college grades prior to re-enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution after at least a two year break in enrollment are not considered.)
    • Enroll in one of the Tennessee public colleges, universities, or private colleges

Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)

The TSAA was established as a non-repayable financial aid program which may provide up to $4,000 per year to financially-needy residents of Tennessee. You must file the FAFSA in order to apply for this award. Please note awards are given on a first-come, first-served basis, and due to limited funding, students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 to receive priority consideration.

Criteria:

  • Tennessee resident, U.S. Citizen
  • Undergraduate Student pursuing their first degree and enrolled at least half-time at an eligible Tennessee Postsecondary Institution
  • Demonstrate financial need, as determined by the FAFSA

Tennessee Reconnect Grant

The Tennessee Reconnect Grant is a “last dollar” scholarship that pays the remaining balance of tuition and mandatory fees after other state financial aid and Pell Grants have been applied. This grant is available for students who want to pursue technical certificates or associate degrees. Students must be in the Associate of Arts program If they have a conferred Associate’s elsewhere and are still in our AA program, they will not qualify.

Using the Reconnect Grant to Earn an Associate Degree

The Reconnect Grant can also be used at Tennessee community colleges and some four-year institutions to pay for tuition while earning a two-year associate degree. This grant pays the remaining balance after other state financial aid and Pell Grants have been applied towards tuition and mandatory fees at the community college. At a four year institution, the Tennessee Reconnect Grant will not be last-dollar, meaning it will not cover all tuition and fees. The amount of funding you may receive will be based on the average amount of tuition and fees at a community college.

Please note:

  • The Reconnect Grant can only be awarded up to $2,070 per semester, if a student is eligible. Any remaining balance is the responsibility of the student.
  • Awards are based on what the Reconnect would be awarded at a community college level.
  • This award does NOT guarantee free tuition to any student
  • The Reconnect Grant is only applied if needed after other gift aid is applied; (i.e. Pell, TN Grant, TN Hope)
  • In most cases, if a student receives a full Pell Grant that exceeds the Reconnect approved amount, a student is ineligible for the Reconnect Grant.

To learn more about eligibility and how to apply, view information here.

Find Additional Sources of Aid

There are a number of additional ways to finance your education:

  • Help from your employer: Many employers in Tennessee offer tuition and education benefits for their employees. Check with your employer’s HR office to determine if your company offers tuition benefits or flexible options for adults looking to return to college.
  • Save time and money with TimewiseTN: If you have years of valuable work or military experience, you may already be eligible to receive academic credit. Check out the TimewiseTN program for more information
  • Investigate financial aid opportunities:
    • From the federal government: Close to 60% of adults attending TN schools receive federal aid in the form of Pell Grants. Students who demonstrate need can receive up to $6,095 per year in federal aid. Learn more about Pell and other Federal grants.
    • From lenders: Direct Loans are low-interest loans to help pay for the cost of your education after high school. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education. However, most of the contact will be with your loan servicer. Subsidized loans have no interest charged while you are in school at least half-time, during the grace period, and during deferment periods. Unsubsidized loans are not based on financial need; interest is charged during all periods, even during the time a student is in school and during grace and deferment periods.
  • Income Share Agreement: An Income Share Agreement, or ISA, provides an alternative funding option to supplement student’s financial aid and federal loans. ISAs provide funding for certified tuition and fees in exchange for a student’s commitment to pay a fixed percentage of their future income for 5 years following graduation.

    Thanks to King University’s focus on creating better career outcomes for our students, STRIDE FUNDING provides ISA funding to students enrolled in eligible programs. With an ISA from Stride Funding, you do not need a cosigner or current income, as they look at where you’re going (future income), not where you’ve been. Plus, all Stride students automatically become a member of the Stride Community, giving you access to career support (e.g., monthly content, exam prep, interview guidance) and a broader community of peers who can support you as you begin your professional journey. To learn more and get a quote (in <15 seconds), visit https://www.stridefunding.com/kinguniversity.