Tuition and Fees 

The total tuition and fees for the 2025-26 academic year is $850 per credit. Please check your financial aid offer letter and your Nelnet student account for specific information to you. While Relay students are responsible for the cost of this program, Relay continues to work to raise need-based financial aid and identify financial support to make this unique educational program affordable. Moreover, eligible students may apply to receive federal direct unsubsidized loans or TEACH grants to pay their tuition and fees at Relay. Students paying tuition with a credit or debit card will be charged a service fee of 2.85% for each transaction. Students paying tuition with a bank account will not be charged a service fee for the transaction. Students must fully cover their tuition in order to enroll in the term or graduate. Students who do not fully cover their tuition by the due date risk being administratively withdrawn from the program. For any questions regarding your tuition, please reach out to us at [email protected]. 

 

Institutional Scholarships

Relay offers a number of institutional scholarships to eligible students. These scholarships are funds that, unlike loans, do not need to be repaid. They are subject to terms, conditions, and availability of funding each academic year. Student Financial Services (SFS) will reach out to applicants after admissions applications have been reviewed to inform them of their institutional aid through a financial aid offer.

 

Relay Teaching Scholarship

The Relay Teaching Scholarship is need-based financial aid awarded to eligible students who apply for and show substantial financial need. Relay prioritizes students with no access to other internal or external awards. Award amounts are dependent on annual availability. Applicants and students interested in applying for need-based aid will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the U.S. Department of Education’s website, www.fafsa.gov (Relay’s school code is 042086). Applicants for admission may submit their forms before completing the admissions process, but decisions about federal financial aid are not finalized until the admissions process has been completed.

 

Relay Residency Scholarship

Students participating in the Relay Teaching Residency program may be eligible for a Relay Residency Scholarship. Participants must be first-year incoming students enrolled at least half-time, have no additional access to other external scholarships and awards, and must complete the FAFSA application. Students who fail to complete the FAFSA application may not be eligible for a Relay Residency Scholarship. Awards are up to $3,000 for the academic year.

 

Other Institutional Scholarships

Relay may be able to offer additional scholarships based on available funding. Students eligible for these scholarships will be notified by Student Financial Services during the academic year. 

 

Federal Financial Aid 

Relay offers direct unsubsidized student loans and TEACH grants to help cover the costs of attendance for eligible, matriculated, enrolled at least half-time students in eligible programs (MAT, Advanced Certificate). Applicants and students interested in applying for federal financial aid will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the U.S. Department of Education’s website, www.fafsa.gov (Relay’s school code is 042086). Applicants for admission may submit their FAFSA before completing the admissions process, but decisions about federal financial aid are not finalized until the admissions process has been completed. Students not interested in requesting loans or TEACH grants do not need to submit a FAFSA form. Students will need to complete all additional forms to request federal financial aid. Complete applications will be reviewed for eligibility. After the initial disbursement of federal aid, attendance will be checked again in 30 days for all registered courses. Attendance includes attending class, submitting assignments, completing an exam, attending office hours, or interacting with professors for enrolled courses. Federal aid may be returned or withheld if courses have not been attended. For more information, access to forms, and instructions, please see Direct Unsubsidized Loans and TEACH Grants. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Federal Financial Aid (Title IV)

Recipients of federal financial aid, Title IV funds, are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to be eligible for any Federal Title IV student aid program. If students are placed on academic probation for a term, they will also be placed on federal financial aid warning status for that term. During the warning term, students remain eligible for federal student loans and TEACH grants. Students have one term to return to satisfactory academic standing; failure to do so will result in program dismissal from Relay and ineligibility for all Title IV assistance. Students who then successfully appeal their program dismissals and remain enrolled at Relay will be placed on financial aid probation and will be eligible to receive federal financial aid for only one more term, after which they will lose eligibility unless they make satisfactory academic progress at the end of the term or otherwise meet the requirements of the academic plan cocreated with the advisor and faculty. Additionally, students will lose eligibility for Title IV assistance from the point at which they are no longer able to complete the full program within 150% of the published program length. Please see Academic Progress for details.

Return of Federal Financial Aid (Title IV)

All federal financial aid, Title IV funds (including federal direct unsubsidized loans and TEACH grants) are awarded to students under the assumption that students will attend Relay for the entire period for which federal financial aid is awarded. Under return of Title IV regulations, students are considered to have withdrawn from the term if they do not complete all the days in the term they were scheduled to complete. Students earn the federal financial aid they have been awarded in direct proportion to the number of days in the term they remain enrolled as active academic participants through the 60% point in the term. Students who withdraw or otherwise cease academic activity after the 60% point earn 100% of the aid received for that payment period and will not be required to return any portion of that aid.

 

If recipients of Title IV funds withdraw from Relay after beginning attendance during a term, Relay will calculate the amount of federal financial aid that students have earned. If the amounts disbursed to students are less than the amounts earned, students are eligible to receive a post-withdrawal disbursement. If the amount disbursed is greater than the amounts earned, Relay will return the unearned funds to the Department of Education. If students owe funds to Relay as a result of Relay returning unearned funds to the Department of Education, students will be responsible for paying Relay the full balance of any funds owed.

Return of Uncashed Federal Financial Aid Checks (Title IV)

Students may receive a refund after federal loans and TEACH grants are disbursed to their accounts. Students are expected to deposit the funds in a reasonable time frame of 45 calendar days. Students should reach out to Student Financial Services for assistance or request a new check issuance within this time frame. 

• After the initial 30 calendar days have passed, Student Financial Services will attempt to contact students and will notify the student of the uncashed refund check with a request to set up their direct deposit account or to directly cash the check. 

• One week after the initial email, Student Financial Services will make a second attempt to notify the student of the intent to cancel and return the excess funds to the U.S. Department of Education. Relay will also notify Nelnet to begin the cancellation of the outstanding check. 

• After 45 calendar days and Nelnet’s confirmation of the cancellation of the outstanding check, Relay will initiate the return of funds to the U.S. Department of Education and notify your loan service provider.

 

Relay follows guidelines regarding Title IV funds and uncashed Title IV refund checks. Relay will make every attempt to contact students through Relay student email accounts before funds are returned to the U.S. Department of Education. Students are responsible for monitoring their student email for notifications.  

 

Exit Counseling

Students who receive federal loans or TEACH grants to finance their education at Relay will be required to complete exit counseling when they graduate or when they cease to be enrolled at least half-time. The completion of exit counseling is a requirement for graduation from Relay and a federal requirement for those students who withdraw or drop their enrollment status to below half-time. Graduating students who do not complete exit counseling on time are subject to bursar holds/academic graduation holds.

Additional Sources of Tuition Support

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

Full-time AmeriCorps members who complete a year of service may earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (Education Award) to pay for current educational expenses or to pay back qualified student loans. The Education Award is projected to be valued at $7,395 for the 2025-26 academic year, and individuals may earn Education Awards for up to two year-long service terms. Relay students may participate in the AmeriCorps program through select Relay teacher preparation programs, Teach For America, or another eligible AmeriCorps service program.

 

For students currently enrolled in an AmeriCorps program, tuition will not be reduced by the amount of the Education Award. If students do not earn their Education Award for any reason, or if they choose not to use these funds toward paying their tuition balance, they will be responsible for paying this balance out of pocket. If students take a leave of absence, withdraw, are administratively withdrawn, or are dismissed from the program, tuition will be payable immediately, even if students have not earned or will not earn their Education Award. For more information on extenuating circumstances, please see Extenuating Circumstances for AmeriCorps recipients. 

 

Students who receive an Education Award also should be aware of the following: 

 

• Students may use the award for any educational expenses allowed by the AmeriCorps program rules; 

• The amount of the Education Award is dependent on congressional funding for the AmeriCorps program and is subject to change. Students are responsible for paying all tuition and fees that are intended to be covered by their Education Awards; and 

• Students who do not receive their education award (due to withdrawal, administrative withdrawal, or program dismissal from Relay; withdrawal, administrative withdrawal, or program dismissal from their AmeriCorps program; or any other reason) will be responsible for covering all tuition. This includes tuition that would have been covered by an earned education award.

 

The Education Award is subject to federal and state tax when it is used; students should consult a tax advisor for more information.

 

More information about AmeriCorps is available at: http://www.americorps.gov 

 

Teach For America (TFA) corps members may be granted TFA Education Awards at the end of each year of service in lieu of a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Relay is eligible to accept these awards for students expecting the TFA Education Awards. All terms and conditions related to tuition balances from unearned pending awards still apply.

 

AmeriCorps Enrollment and Relay Tuition

Students may be eligible to earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (up to $7,395) upon completion of the 2025-26 school year. Students often choose to apply their earned Education Award to cover a portion of their Relay tuition. Failure to complete all required AmeriCorps enrollment steps and join the AmeriCorps program by the stated deadline if you’re eligible means that you will not earn an Education Award.

 

AmeriCorps Opt-Out

Students may decide to opt out of AmeriCorps program membership. To initiate an opt-out, students must submit the Relay AmeriCorps Application and select the “concern question.” All opt-out requests will be granted since students have full autonomy to decline AmeriCorps membership; said otherwise, all eligible students have the option to complete and enroll in AmeriCorps—membership is not mandatory for attendance at Relay. 

 

Student Financial Services will determine if alternative awards may be provided based on need-based aid criteria. Relay cannot guarantee that you will receive alternative funding. 

 

Students receiving a scholarship through their employer may check with their employer regarding the scholarship amount or reach out to [email protected] for more information. Employers may reach out to the Partner Billing team at [email protected].

 

Students can review their unpaid tuition balances on their Nelnet student accounts.

 

Outside Scholarships 

Students may receive financial assistance from sources other than federal and institutional financial aid programs. Under federal law and school policy, Relay must consider outside resources when deciding what other aid or loans students may be eligible to receive. Outside awards may reduce students’ eligibility for federal and institutional financial aid.

 

Outside awards are incorporated into financial aid packages: first, they may be used to reduce students’ out-of-pocket responsibilities, and they may replace other institutional scholarships. Students whose financial aid packages are adjusted to account for outside awards in the middle of an academic year will receive email notifications and/or updated financial aid offers.