DCCL Financial Information

Your graduate education is one of the most important investments you will ever make. This information should be used only as a guideline for estimating charges. All fees are subject to change without notice.

Academic Year 2023-24 Tuition: $836 per credit

• The DCCL program is 61 credits total. Each semester is 6-7 credits.
• The DCCL program has only one tuition rate. There is not a separate out-of-state rate.
• No additional fees are applicable for DCCL students. Other costs include textbooks and travel to class locations.

Ferris offers three payment plans for paying tuition: pay balance in full, payment plans, or the Employer Tuition Reimburse (ETR) program.

Pay Balance in Full: No deferred processing fee. All charges are due on the first billing date, prior to the first day of classes. This will require the entire account to be paid, leaving a $0 balance.

Payment Plans: $30 Enrollment fee per semester; choose one of three options on the Payment Plans page in Ferris360. The first payment is due prior to the start of class. An updated electronic invoice will be issued for the remaining installments. Additional information can be found through Student Financial Services.

Employer Tuition Reimburse (ETR) Program: This program makes it easy for your employer to help you pay for your classes. Students who qualify for the ETR program will have their tuition deferred until 30 days after grades post for each semester. Additional information can be found through Statewide & Online.

Current billing and payment dates and options are available on the Student Financial Services web page. From the Ferris home page, select “Student Financial Services” from the Quick Links drop down menu.

To Access and View Your Bill: Log into Ferris360 and search for "Ebill," then click on the search result of the same name. Billing statements will only be provided electronically, no paper bills will be issued.

Tuition is due by the date listed on your E-Bill before the semester begins. If no payment is made, a $100 late fee will be charged to re-enroll in class. For any questions regarding billing and payments, contact
the Student Financial Services at (231) 591-3972.

You can pay using the following methods

1. Cash: In person only at the Timme Center for Student Services.
2. Check: You may mail or deliver a check to the Timme Center for Student Services or with no service fee to the address below. Always include your campus ID number on the check.
   Ferris State University
   Student Financial Services CSS 101PA
   1201 S. State Street
   Big Rapids, MI 49307
3. Online: Log into Ferris360 and search for "Ebill," then click on the search result of the same name.
   • E-Check (electronic debit to your checking or savings account)
   • Credit Card (includes 2.95% service fee) If you would like more information, visit our business office FAQ for service fee information.

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Graduate PLUS Loan
• Private Education Loan
• Donald L. Newport Emergency Loan Fund

• The financial aid process begins with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Send the FAFSA to Ferris - add our school code (002260).
• If you recently completed the FAFSA, keep in mind that it takes 5-7 business days for the FAFSA to be sent to Ferris.
• The FAFSA is the application that Ferris State University uses to determine student eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid such as scholarships, grants, loans and work study.
  • Before you can file the FAFSA, you will need to create a user name and password called an FSA ID.
  • You will do this on the studentaid.gov website. Select "Create Account" next to the log in box.
  • All graduate/doctoral students are considered independent students and do not need to provide parent info.
  • Once you have a FSA ID, select "Complete the FAFSA Form" on the right menu of the studentaid.gov webpage.
• Click here to access a helpful 20-21 FAFSA video
• Once you are admitted and your FAFSA has been received by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, you will be notified via your Ferris email if any additional documentation is needed to complete your financial aid file.
• You will be notified via your Ferris email if you have missing requirements, or that you have been awarded financial aid, and when you are able to accept your financial aid award.
  • Directions on how to check your missing requirements go to the Ferris financial aid process page, under Process Links, go to "Missing Financial Aid Documents"
• To accept award offer log into Ferris360 and search for "Financial Aid Award Offer," then click on the search result of the same name. Select the Award Year, select Terms and Conditions, finally select Accept Award Offer
  • Awarding for the Fall semester typically begins in early June for continuing students
  • Awarding for the Spring semester typically begins in late October for newly admitted students
  • Awarding for the Summer typically begins in early April for newly admitted and continuing students

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans are automatically awarded to admitted students who complete the FAFSA process each academic year. Interest rates and loan origination fee amounts can be found on the Ferris federal direct loans page.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

• Accrue interest at a low fixed interest rate immediately after the loan has disbursed
• Are not need-based
• Are available to both Undergraduate and Graduate students

Important Information

• As a doctoral student, you may be eligible for up to $20,500* per academic year (aid year includes Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters), not to exceed the graduate/professional student federal Direct Loan limit of $138,500. *Be sure to save funds, from award, for summer semester.

Eligibility

Student must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program and complete the FAFSA at complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov to be eligible for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

• 3 credit hours for doctoral students (DCCL)
• Students must complete a FAFSA for the appropriate aid year and complete any other missing requirements (such as verification)
• Student must complete Entrance Counseling
• Student must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
• Complete the FAFSA complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov to be eligible for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
  
  • As a doctoral student, you may be eligible for up to $20,500 per academic year (aid year includes Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters), not to exceed the graduate/professional student federal Direct Loan limit of $138,500.
• To review your current federal loan debt (if applicable) you may log into nslds.ed.gov.
• To accept award offer log into Ferris360 and search for "Financial Aid Award Offer," then click on the search result of the same name. Select the Award Year, select Terms and Conditions, finally select Accept Award Offer
  
  • Awarding for the Fall semester typically begins in early June for continuing students
  • Awarding for the Spring semester typically begins in late October for newly admitted students
  • Awarding for the Summer typically begins in early April for newly admitted and continuing students
• For more information on Direct Loan Links and Annual Loan Limits
• Additional loan funding outside of the Federal Direct loans, find more information at the Ferris graduate private loans page

• To apply for this loan option, you must have a FAFSA on file. This application requires credit-worthiness and may be requested to cover up to the remaining balance of your Cost of Attendance. The federal Grad PLUS Loan is the loan that most Ferris graduate students apply for to cover the cost of attendance not met by their unsubsidized loan offer.
  • The Grad PLUS Loan is very easy to qualify for and typically does not require a cosigner. Interest rates and loan origination fee amounts can be found at Interest rates and loan origination fee amounts can be found at the Ferris graduate private loans page. *Federal Direct Loans and Graduate PLUS Loan interest rates are subject to change each academic year based on guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.
• You may apply for the Grad PLUS Loan at studentaid.gov. Log in using your FSA ID then select the "Inschool" option, then Apply for a PLUS Loan for Graduate school.

• Private educational loans are available from private lenders for graduate students whose cost of attendance has not been met with other financial aid. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is not required to apply for a private loan, however students are encouraged to file the FAFSA to exhaust federal aid options before applying for private loans. Private loans are not federal student aid.

• This fund is designed to assist students enrolled in the Doctorate in Community College Leadership (DCCL) program.
• This loan requires that the student has been denied for a Graduate PLUS Loan.
• The amount of the loan will be limited to up to $2500 per loan, and must be repaid within a 9-month period, at a 2% fixed interest rate.

Ralph C. and J. William Wenrich Educational Excellence Scholarship

Applicants must be enrolled in the Doctorate in Community College Leadership (DCCL) program or Master of Science in Career and Technical Education programs.

• Fill out FAFSA for upcoming academic year.
• Funds to cover 12 credit hours will be awarded. These funds can be split between Fall, Spring, and Summer (if applicable).
• This is a one-time scholarship (cannot re-apply if it has been previously awarded).

Ferris DCCL Endowed Scholarship and Fellowship

The scholarship and fellowship shall be awarded to a full-time graduate student majoring in the Doctorate in Community College Leadership (DCCL) program who is in good standing as specified in the DCCL Policy.

• Financial need is not a criterion.
  
• The amount of the scholarship(s) and fellowship shall be determined by the awarding committee based upon the endowment's available spendable dollars.

DCCL Fellowship/Professional Development Award

• In order to submit a proposal/application, students must have exhausted all other funding sources and the applicant has not received other funding support from DCCL.
• Funds may be used for leadership institutes, conference presentations, and expenses related to dissertation research, etc.

Gunder and Marliss Myran CC Leadership Endowed Scholarship

The scholarship shall be awarded to a full-time graduate student enrolled in the Doctorate in Community College Leadership (DCCL) Program. The amount of the scholarship(s) shall be determined by the awarding department based upon the endowment's available spendable dollars.

• A minimum of one scholarship shall be awarded annually, if sufficient spendable dollars are available.
• The scholarship funds shall be credited directly to the recipient's student account and shall be available for tuition, fees, room and board, or other educational related expenses.
• One half of the scholarship shall be made during the fall semester and one half shall be made during the subsequent semester.
• The scholarship is renewable provided the recipient remains a full-time graduate student and has demonstrated satisfactory academic progress as specified by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
• If the recipient becomes ineligible at the end of the fall semester, the remaining scholarship monies shall be awarded the next academic year.

Robert L. Ewigleben Endowed Scholarship

The scholarship shall be awarded to a full-time student with a 3.0 GPA.

• Financial need is not required, but preferred.
  
• One half of the scholarship shall be made during the fall semester and one half shall be made during the subsequent semester.

• Endowed funds will not be open to award until the 2022-2023 aid year.

Roberta C. Teahen DCCL Endowed Scholarship

The scholarship shall be awarded to a full-time student with a 3.0 GPA.

• Financial need is not required, but preferred.
  
• One half of the scholarship shall be made during the fall semester and one half shall be made during the subsequent semester.

• Endowed funds will not be open to award until the 2023-2024 aid year.

King/Chavez/Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program

Some students may qualify for this program, please contact Multicultural Student Services for more details at (231) 591-2617.

Donald L. Newport Emergency Loan Fund

This fund is designed to assist students enrolled in the Doctorate in Community College Leadership (DCCL) program.

• This loan requires that the student has been denied for a Graduate PLUS Loan.
• The amount of the loan will be limited to up to $2500 per loan, and must be repaid within a 9-month period, at a 2% fixed interest rate.

More Scholarship Information

• Additional information on DCCL Scholarships available here.
• Ferris State University General Scholarship Information
• For more scholarship information go to MyScholarships

• Scholarship applications open up for the next aid year in mid-December and close at the end of January for the upcoming academic year.
• More information available at DCCL Scholarships

• Admitted Students: If you are an admitted student (you have a user name and password) please follow these instructions to submit your applications: Log into Ferris360 and search for "MyScholarships," then click on the search result of the same name.

DCCL Fellowship/Professional Development Award

• In order to submit a proposal/application, students must have exhausted all other funding sources and applicant has not received other funding support from DCCL.
• Funds may be used for leadership institutes, conference presentations, and expenses related to dissertation research, etc.
• Proposals must be submitted before the event or before travel/research occurs.
• Proposal should include how the funds will be used. In a brief statement (250 words), students must explain how the event/research will develop professional or leadership skills or how their research will contribute to scholarship in community colleges.
• Students can apply at any time.
• Applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis by DCCL Fellowship committee.
• Funds will be distributed in a reimbursement format (not to student account)

Application

• To apply for this fellowship/award, please download the application form here.
• Send the completed form to [email protected].

Does your employer help you pay for school?

Our Employer Tuition Reimbursement program makes it easy for your employer to help you pay for school. If your employer offers tuition assistance, make sure to take full advantage at Ferris!

Students who qualify for the Ferris ETR program will have their tuition deferred until 30 days after grades post for each semester.

• Information about the ETR Program, including the application, can be found here.
• Students who qualify for the ETR program will have their tuition deferred until 30 days after grades post for each semester. 

To qualify for ETR program students must submit the following application documents and enrollment fee EVERY semester

• Complete and submit the online ETR Application
• Submit a current letter of eligibility on company letterhead stating criteria for reimbursement up to XXX% either with the application, emailing to [email protected].
• You will be manually enrolled into the ETR Payment Plan after your ETR Application and current letter of eligibility have been received. You will receive a confirmation email once enrolled.
• The ETR Application and letter of eligibility due date can be found at here.

• If you plan to go on the DCCL Study Abroad trip, you can add the travel expenses to your financial aid package.  *Subject to financial aid package availability
• Contact the DCCL office ([email protected] or call (231) 591-2710) to obtain the Financial Aid worksheet.
• After confirming all travel expenses are included, send the worksheet to Megan Bahlke [email protected] as soon as possible.