Cairn Online Scholarships, Grants, and Loans
In addition to highly competitive tuition rates, Cairn Online students receive scholarships, discounts, and other financial aid opportunities. As you review the options below, remember to reach out to our Financial Aid professionals who are committed to assisting you navigating the financial aid options.
Undergraduate Financial Aid
Scholarships & Grants
Scholarships and grants are both academic and need-based awards. This type of 鈥渁id鈥� is usually perceived as a 鈥済ift鈥� and doesn鈥檛 require the student to pay back any of the support they receive.
Needy students taking at least 3 credits in an undergraduate degree program could be eligible for federal aid.
Aid amount:
$670 to $6,495 (2021-2022 academic year)听
Undergraduate students demonstrating financial need may be eligible for state aid. Applicants must be PA residents and enrolled at least half-time in a degree program.
Aid amount:
Up to $5,750/year (based on 2025-2026 maximum amount)
How to apply:听
Complete the听听and additional forms required by PHEAA.听Use FAFSA school code听003351
There are many 鈥渙utside scholarship鈥� opportunities for prospective and current college students to apply for in order to supplement their institutional aid. Explore听public scholarship search engines such as听, , or听听in order to find possible opportunities. Eligibility and requirements vary.
Federal Loans
Federal Direct Loans听are听loans through the Department of Education and they require the student to complete a听.听听
Federal Direct Subsidized loans听are only offered听to听undergraduate students.听
Federal Direct Unsubsidized听loans are fixed interest rate loans offered to听undergraduate, graduate, and professional students听enrolled half-time or higher.
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan听is a loan for students with demonstrated financial need. The government pays the loan interest for the student while the student is in school and this the preferred loan of the two direct loans due to this subsidy.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan听is a loan which is not based on a students鈥� financial need. Students pay the loan interest while enrolled or the student can elect to have it deferred and capitalized upon graduation.
Aid amount:
Annual borrowing limits range from $5,500-$12,500.
How to apply:
Complete the听.听Use school code听003351
For first-time loan borrowers at Cairn: Complete the Federal Student Loan entrance counseling and sign a Direct Loan Agreement (MPN) at听.
Veterans Benefits
天涯海角社区 is committed to helping veterans secure听the GI Bill庐听funds they are eligible for under any听of the following VA听chapters:
Graduate Financial Aid
Scholarships & Grants
Scholarships and grants are both academic and need-based awards. This type of 鈥渁id鈥� is usually perceived as a 鈥済ift鈥� and doesn鈥檛 require the student to pay back any of the support they receive.
Need-based grants are awarded based on demonstrated financial need and, like scholarships, do not have to be repaid. Accepted, full-time, degree-seeking graduate students may apply.
Aid amount:
Varies
How to apply:
Complete the听听and the听Grant Application
天涯海角社区 will match (up to $1,000) the amount given by a church in support of a student. This is awarded once per year.
Aid amount:
Up to $1,000/year
How to apply:
Submit the 听and have a church official submit payment to the Financial Aid Office. Deadline: August 1.
There are many 鈥渙utside scholarship鈥� opportunities for prospective and current college students to apply for in order to supplement their institutional aid. Explore听public scholarship search engines such as听, , or听听in order to find possible opportunities. Eligibility and requirements vary.
Discounts
New, incoming graduate students who are alumni of Cairn undergraduate, graduate, or Degree Completion programs may be eligible for a discount on graduate program tuition.
Aid amount:听
10% discount on graduate tuition.
How to apply:
Complete the online application for your program of choice at听/apply/. Make sure to complete Educational Background section in full.听
Married couples who register in the same semester may apply for a tuition discount.
Aid amount:
Degree Completion: 50% discount for spouse taking fewer credits
How to apply:
Complete the听Spouse Discount Request
Educators and employees who work in a Christian school are eligible for a flat rate of $400/credit听in select graduate programs.听
Aid amount:
Flat rate of $400/credit听
How to apply:
Complete听Christian School Educator鈥檚 Discount Application
Federal Aid & Loans
Federal Direct Loans听are听loans through the Department of Education and they require the student to complete a听.听听
Federal Direct Unsubsidized听loans are fixed interest rate loans offered to听undergraduate, graduate, and professional students听enrolled half-time or higher.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan听is a loan which is not based on a students鈥� financial need. Students pay the loan interest while enrolled or the student can elect to have it deferred and capitalized upon graduation.听 Students need to attend at least half time.
Aid amount:
Annual borrowing听range up to $20,500 for full-time graduate students.
How to apply:
- Complete the听
- Complete the听Federal Direct Loan entrance counseling and a Direct Loan Agreement (MPN) at听.
Trade Adjustment Assistance听(TAA) is a federal program, administered by the state, which provides assistance for workers adversely affected by foreign trade. The听seeks to provide adversely affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, credentials, resources, and support necessary to (re)build skills for future jobs.听
Aid amount:
Aid amount varies, depending on applicants鈥� certified eligible status for TAA benefits with their local. Funding is available for training, extended income support, and/or other benefits as outlined in the TAA Program.
Eligibility:
Graduate students enrolled in approved programs below.
How to apply:
Applicants must apply and be accepted to one of 天涯海角社区鈥檚 approved degree programs listed on听Pennsylvania鈥檚 EPTL list of approved education providers and programs,听which currently includes the following online graduate programs:听
听
Applicants must also be certified as eligible for TAA benefits with their local American Job Center and maintain compliance with TAA program requirements to receive ongoing benefits. Visit the听for guidelines on applying for TAA Program benefits.