1. How much does tuition cost?
The total tuition and fees for the 2020–2021 school year is $17,500 for both first-year and second-year students, but after scholarships, the most that 99% of students can expect to pay out of pocket is a maximum of $10,000 per year (AMAT students have an extra $250 credit transfer fee added to their summer bills). While Relay students are responsible for the cost of this program, Relay has worked to raise scholarship funds and identify financial support to make this unique educational program affordable. For many students, this $10,250 number is significantly lowered even further with additional awards (such as an anticipated AmeriCorps award), fellowships, and/or partner school contributions.
2. I'm trying to budget my future expenses. What would a monthly breakdown be?
Lets say that your school does not partner with Relay, and you are not in the AmeriCorps program. The maximum amount any student pays out of pocket at Relay is $10,250; the majority of our students receive additional aid to lower their out of pocket costs. if you sign up for a payment plan for the maximum amount, this means $1800 for summer, and $3600 for fall and spring semesters, each. You can sign up for a payment plan each semester with the following number of installments:
Summer: 3
Fall: 4
Spring: 4
This means that you would pay $600 each month for three months in the summer semester, and $900 each month for four months in the fall and spring semesters. If you are in a federal aid eligible program, you also have the option of requesting aid to cover some or all of these semester costs. For more information, please see the Direct Loan article and the TEACH Grant article.
3. What scholarships does Relay offer? How can I apply?
Each student who is enrolled at least half-time in the program will receive the Urban Teacher Scholarship each semester. Outside scholarships from social clubs, churches, and communities are both welcomed and encouraged!
4. When can I apply for FAFSA? How can I apply for financial aid?
If you are expecting to attend Relay during the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year, you can begin the process of applying for federal aid in the form of a direct unsubsidized loan or a TEACH Grant by submitting the 2020-2021 FAFSA at https://fafsa.gov/ using Relay's school code 042086.
The TEACH and Direct Unsubsidized Loan applications for the 2020-2021 school year will be available on June 3. More information will be included in the award letter that you will receive in June. If you accept your acceptance letter at a later date, you will receive your award letter two weeks afterward.
5. When will I receive my financial aid offer?
You will receive an award letter at the beginning of each academic year that lists your tuition per term, your institutional financial aid, and your out-of-pocket costs per term. In addition, SFS will provide multiple options on how to pay your balance (e.g. credit card payments, federal financial aid, payment plans).
If you’re a continuing student you will receive your financial aid award letter before the start of the next academic year (end of May, early June).
If you’re an incoming student you will receive your financial aid award letter within two weeks after you have signed your enrollment agreement. Please click here to find out how to read your award letter.
6. What are my next steps if my employer is covering my tuition costs in full or partially?
Partner schools committed to fully or partially covering student out-of-pocket costs will not be reflected in your financial aid offer letter. The coverage amount will show on your term-based invoice. Students must wait to receive their term invoice in order to log into their Nelnet accounts.
7. Do you offer payment plans? When can I make my first payment?
For incoming students, payment plans are available through our partner Nelnet.
Your summer and fall costs are combined during your first year and due during the fall term. If you would like to sign up for a payment plan that covers the full balance, you will have to sign up for two plans separately, one for your summer balance and one for your fall balance. Both plans will run at the same time starting in September and the first payment installments will be due in September. Spring term payment plans will be available at the beginning of the spring term.
You can find a specific breakdown of the payment plans by reading (2). The first installment will be due on September 15th. Your award letter will have instructions on how to sign up for a payment plan each term.
8. When will my first bill arrive and when will it be due?
We will send you a billing notification for the summer and fall terms on August 17th. It will be for your summer and your fall balances, since first year students have their summer and fall bills combined. Relay recognizes that not all of our incoming students have started teaching at their schools yet. The summer and fall term bill is due on September 15th, 2020.