Tuition and Financial Aid
FINANCIAL AID
What Is Financial Aid?
The term “Financial Aid” is a general term used by colleges to refer to all the financial help a student may receive to help pay for college. Financial aid comes in many forms, but the most common are loans, merit scholarships, need-based scholarships, Federal Student Aid, state aid programs, and gifts from friends and family members.
How Do I Apply for Federal Student Aid?
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.studentaid.gov.
- The student will receive a paper or electronic response from the FAFSA processor called the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS). The FSS will give you basic information about your eligibility for Federal aid and will also list your answers to questions on the FAFSA. It is very important that you review the FSS carefully and make sure that all information is correct as listed.
- The Welch College school code is 030018. Listing the college allows the Financial Aid Office to draw down electronically an Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) for the student. The priority deadline for receipt of all financial aid forms is April 15; however, they may be submitted at any time.
NOTE: Students whose federal aid application is chosen for verification will be required to submit additional documentation when requested by the Student Financial Aid Office.
How Does Welch Use My FAFSA Application?
After you have taken the steps above to complete the FAFSA, if a student has been accepted by the Admissions Committee, the Office of Finacial Aid at Welch College will then use the information to prepare your financial award package.
The electronic financial award package must be accepted or rejected through Populi.
How Is Need-Based Financial Aid Determined?
Eligibility to receive federal grants, loans, and work-study is given to students who demonstrate financial need. A formula in which several factors such as family income, assets, number of family members, and the age of the oldest parent are used to determine financial aid eligibility.
Your FSS will include a number called the Student Aid Index (SAI). Based on a Federal formula, the SAI is a number (which may be negative) that is used to determine financial aid eligibility.
A simplified definition of financial need is: Education Costs – Family Contribution = Financial Need
FEDERAL AID
Types of Federal Aid
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Federal Pell Grant
$767-$7,395
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Incoming freshmen, transfer students, and continuing students showing sufficient documented financial need.
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required.
Federal Stafford Loan
Up to $3,500 for 1st year, $4,500 for 2nd year,
up to $5,500 per year for other years.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Incoming freshmen, transfer students, and continuing students showing sufficient documented financial need.
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a FAFSA and completion of a Federal Stafford Loan Application is required. You may also visit Mapping Your Future.
Federal SEOG Grant
$500-$1,000
PRIORITY DEADLINE: April 15
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Incoming freshmen, transfer students and continuing students showing sufficient documented financial need.
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a FAFSA is required.
Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
Federal Stafford Loan limits apply
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Non-need-based loan available to incoming freshmen, transfer students and continuing students.
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a FAFSA and completion of a Federal Stafford Loan Application is required.
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Incoming freshmen, transfer students and continuing students showing sufficient documented financial need.
HOW TO APPLY: Completion of a work application and filing a FAFSA is required.
Parent PLUS Loan
Loans up to cost of attendance
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Parents of dependent incoming freshman, transfer students, and continuing students
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a FAFSA and completion of a Federal PLUS Loan Application is required.
TENNESSEE STATE AID
Type of Tennessee State Aid
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Tennessee Student Assistance Award
Non-repayable grant for up to $4,000
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Families with an EFC < $2,100
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a FAFSA by February 1.
Tennessee Promise
Up to $3,000 per year
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Any high school senior who graduates from a Tennessee eligible high school or completes a Tennessee home school program can apply for the Promise.
The program will launch with the graduating class of 2015.
HOW TO APPLY: Learn more at Tennessee Promise
TN Hope Scholarship
$4,500–$5,700 per year
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Graduate from TN high school, minimum 21 ACT or minimum 3.0 overall high school GPA, and minimum 3.0 college core GPA
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a FAFSA is required.
TN Access Grant
$2,750 per year
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Graduate from TN high school, minimum 18 ACT, <$36,000 AGI
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a FAFSA is required.
TN Aspire Scholarship
$1,500 per year
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? TN Hope eligibility; <$36,000 AGI
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a FAFSA is required.
TN General Assembly Grant
$1,000 per year
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? TN Hope eligible, minimum 29 ACT and 3.75 high school GPA
HOW TO APPLY: Filing a FAFSA is required.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship Deadlines:
Most Welch scholarships do not have a deadline, but two of the below scholarships do have a deadline.
- The deadline for the alumni Scholarship is May 1.
- The deadline for Endowed Scholarships is May 15.
Types of Scholarships
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ACT, SAT, and CLT Scholarships
| SCHOLARSHIPS | ACT SCORE | SAT SCORE | CLT SCORE | ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP |
| Presidential Honors Scholarship* | 31+ | 1420+ | 94+ | $10,000 |
| Provost’s Honors* | 28-30 | 1310-1410 | 90-93 | $8,000 |
| Academic Honors* | 25-27 | 1200-1300 | 78-89 | $4,000 |
| Leadership Award* | 21-24 | 1060-1190 | 68-77 | $2,500 |
You do not have to apply for this scholarship. You automatically qualify when you complete the application for admission!
Speak with a representative in the Office of Financial Aid or your admissions counselor for more information.
Christian School and Homeschool
We provide an $8,000 ($2,000 per year distributed over 4 years) institutional scholarship for all Christian school and homeschool graduates.
Hardship Scholarship
Welch College has institutional scholarships for families who have fallen on hard times (medical problems, job loss, etc.). See your admissions counselor for more information on submitting a hardship appeal.
Free Will Baptist - Ministry Scholarship
Did you know Welch offers up to $10,000 per year for Pastoral Ministry or Youth and Family Ministry majors? That’s right! All approved applicants will be raised to the Presidential Honors level ($10,000) of the ACT/SAT/CLT scholarship. Additional scholarships may be stacked. If an approved applicant already qualifies for the Presidential Honors level, an appeal may be submitted requesting additional scholarship money. In order to be approved, students must:
- Complete the Ministry Scholarship application.
- Be approved by the Ministry Scholarship Committee.
- Receive a recommendation from a Free Will Baptist pastor.
- Be a new or transfer student for the fall 2020 semester.
- Major in Pastoral Ministry or Youth and Family Ministry.
- Be a member in good standing with a Free Will Baptist church.
- Possess a desire to seek eventual ordination in the Free Will Baptist Church.
To complete the application for the Ministry Scholarship, click here.
Free Will Baptist - T&P, YET, CTS, ETEAM
Truth and Peace
You will receive a $1,000 scholarship for every year you participate in Truth and Peace! So as an example, if you participate in Truth and Peace for your freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year of high school then you’ve just earned $4,000 in scholarships! But, keep in mind, this scholarship cannot be used up during your freshman year of college—because you earned it over 4 years, you’ll need to spend it over 4 years. (And, yes, this scholarship can be stacked on all other scholarships including the ETEAM and CTS/YET scholarships.)
ETEAM
You will receive a $1,000 scholarship for every year you participate in ETEAM! So, if you are on an ETEAM for your sophomore, junior, and senior year of high school, that means you’ve just earned a $3,000 scholarship! But, keep in mind, this scholarship cannot be used up during your freshman year of college—because you earned it over 3 years, you’ll need to spend it over 3 years. (And, yes, this scholarship can be stacked on all other scholarships including the Truth & Peace and CTS/YET scholarships.)
CTS/YET
You will receive a $1,000 scholarship for every year you are a Category D winner in the CTS competition or you are selected for YET! So as an example, if you are a Category D CTS winner for your sophomore and junior year of high school, and then you are selected for YET as a high school senior, that means you’ve just earned $3,000! But, keep in mind, this scholarship cannot be used up during your freshman year of college—because you earned it over 3 years, you’ll need to spend it over 3 years. (And, yes, this scholarship can be stacked on all other scholarships including the Truth & Peace scholarship.)
You do not have to apply for this scholarship. You automatically qualify when you complete the application for admission!
Speak with a representative in the Office of Financial Aid or your admissions counselor for more information.
Free Will Baptist - Legacy Scholarship
This $2,500 per year award is available to students whose parents are the pastors of a Free Will Baptist church, IM missionary, or NAM missionary.
You do not have to apply for this scholarship. You automatically qualify when you complete the application for admission! Speak with a representative in the Office of Financial Aid or your admissions counselor for more information.
Spouse Scholarship
The wife or husband of a full-time student (taking 12 hours or more at full tuition) may register at half tuition for up to an equal amount of hours.
Alumni Scholarship
Tippett Alumni Scholarship
The Bert and Dianne Tippett Alumni Scholarship is awarded each year to a child or grandchild of a Welch College Alumnus. Applications and reference forms are due May 1st.
Endowed Scholarships
Most Welch scholarships do not have a deadline, but this one does! The deadline for Endowed Scholarships is May 15.
Scholarships are available from donors in amounts ranging from $100 to $2,000 per year. These scholarships are granted to students selected by the College administration. Need, academic achievement, and character are considered in selecting the recipients. Please note that not all scholarships are funded each year.
To apply for these scholarships, you must complete the application and be accepted. See your admissions counselor for more information.
- Elihue Roy (E.R.) and Alma Mayo Memorial Scholarship
- William E. and Dixie M. Atkinson Scholarship
- Beacon Church Scholarship
- Berkeley Free Will Baptist Church Scholarship
- Louis and Thelma Brautigan Scholarship Fund
- Pat Burttram Memorial Scholarship
- L. D. Carlisle Scholarship
- Christian Business Leaders Association Scholarship
- Christian Education Scholarship
- Marvin Z. and Agnes M. Cobb Scholarship
- Thomas A. Collins Business Scholarship
- Cornerstone Free Will Baptist Church Scholarship
- Mary Wilkerson Covington Memorial Scholarship
- Reverend Robert Crawford Scholarship
- Reverend Ronald and Mary Belle Creech Scholarship
- Reverend O. L. and Lois Fields Scholarship Fund
- Riley Giddons Scholarship
- Jewel Sutton Hagewood Memorial Scholarship
- Will Hall Memorial Scholarship
- Ralph C. and Lucille Hampton Academic Scholarship
- Billy D. Hanna Pastoral Scholarship
- Carlisle and Marie Hanna Missions Scholarship
- Elba Baxter Harwell Family Scholarship Fund
- Heritage Scholarship
- Mrs. Ada C. Hollis Memorial Scholarship
- L. C. Johnson Scholarship
- Paul J. Ketteman Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Lakeview (NC) Free Will Baptist Church Scholarship
- Leckrone/Bethel Scholarship
- Legacy Scholarship (institutional)
- Lowdermilk Scholarship
- William H. Lowe Memorial Scholarship
- Charles McNeese Memorial Scholarship
- Jesse Meade Memorial Scholarship
- Mrs. Gertrude Reese Montgomery Memorial Scholarship
- NYC Competition Winners’ Scholarships (institutional)
- Oliver Family Scholarship
- Dr. W. Stanley Outlaw Biblical Studies Scholarship
- Tilden and Rosalie Parks Scholarship
- Henry and Imogene Patterson Memorial Scholarship
- Emila Patton Memorial Scholarship
- Yvonne Philpot Memorial Music Scholarship
- Reverend and Mrs. L. V. Pinson Scholarship
- Reverend Henry L. “Roy” Player Memorial Missions Scholarship
- Fannie L. Polston Scholarship
- Ashlee Powelka Missionary Scholarship
- Price/Kicklighter Memorial Scholarship
- Ada Rice Memorial Scholarship
- Helen Sanders Memorial Fund
- Sherwood Forest Free Will Baptist Church Scholarship Fund
- Linda Shipley Music Scholarship
- Judy Aycock Simpson Scholarship
- Simpson-Frazier Scholarship
- Spouse Scholarship (institutional)
- Reverend and Mrs. Ralph Staten Scholarship
- Rebecca Stewart Scholarship
- Sturgill Family Business Administration Scholarship
- J. A. Thigpen Scholarship
- Dr. Jonathan Thigpen Scholarship
- Owen Thomas Scholarship Fund
- TICUA-UPS Scholars Scholarship
- Victory (NC) Free Will Baptist Church Scholarship
- Leah Waddell Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Webb’s Prarie Fund
- Minnie S. Wilkinson Memorial Scholarship
- Homer Willis Music Scholarship
- Herbert Winchester Memorial Scholarship
- Dr. Robert E. Woodard Pastoral Ministry Scholarship
TUITION
Approximate Cost Before Financial Aid
Welch College is one of the most affordable schools in Tennesee!
Fulltime, Undergrad, Dormitory Freshman
The cost per semester for the 2024-25 school year for a full-time (taking 12-18 hours) freshman living on campus will be $15,034. That’s $30,068 per year for tuition, housing, and food before scholarships! Also, Welch has no fees, so you won’t arrive on campus and be surprised with costs that you were not expecting. Also, keep in mind that more than 90% of Welch College students receive some form of financial aid.
In addition to the tuition and on-campus housing and food charges posted directly to your student account, there are additional indirect costs associated with attending college. The Welch College cost of attendance, used for awarding financial aid, includes other “average” expenses that you may incur that are not billed to your Welch College student account. This information will hopefully assist you in developing your budget.
Fulltime, Undergrad, Commuter Freshman
The cost per semester for the 2024-25 school year for a full-time (taking 12-18 hours) commuter will be $10,700. That’s $21,400 per year for tuition before scholarships! Also, Welch has no fees, so you won’t arrive on campus and be surprised with costs that you were not expecting. Also, keep in mind that more than 90% of Welch College students receive some form of financial aid.
Tuition, Housing, Food, and Payment Schedule
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Tuition (per semester)
2023-24 Tuition (per semester)
Undergraduate 12-18 hours (block)* $10,388 (2023-24)
Undergraduate 1-11 hours (per hour) $708
Undergraduate 19+ hours (each hour over 18 hours, per semester hour) $708
Adult and Online Studies programs (per hour) $390
Audit of Course(s) (per hour) $343
Dual Enrollment (per hour) $150
Spanish Ministry Institute (per hour) $200
Graduate Program (per hour) $450
2024-25 Tuition (per semester)
Undergraduate 12-18 hours (block)* $10,700 (2024-25)
Undergraduate 1-11 hours (per hour) $728
Undergraduate 19+ hours (each hour over 18 hours, per semester hour) $728
Adult and Online Studies programs (per hour) $402
Audit of Course(s) (per hour) $352
Dual Enrollment (per hour) $150
Spanish Ministry Institute (per hour) $200
Graduate Program (per hour) $464
*Donations received from Free Will Baptist churches and generous supporters represent a scholarship for every Welch College student. Without this donor support, educational expenses would be increased significantly as in many private, Christian colleges.
Cost of Attendance
Welch College is required to provide cost of attendance numbers. These are only averages; a spending-conscious student will be able to save money by spending less on books, transportation, and personal items. Our Admissions Counselors are here to help you think of ways to save money! Whether it is brewing your coffee at home, buying used books, or carpooling, it is possible!
Housing and Food Plan (per semester)
2023-24
Housing + 20/week Food Plan (required for freshmen), per semester. $4,208
Housing + 14/week Food Plan (optional for upperclassmen), per semester. $3,993
Housing + Flex Food Plan (student teachers and nurses), per semester. $2,394
Commuter (off-campus) Student Food Plan, per semester. $493
2024-25
Housing + 20/week Food Plan (required for freshmen), per semester. $4,334
Housing + 14/week Food Plan (optional for upperclassmen), per semester. $4,113
Housing + Flex Food Plan (student teachers and nurses), per semester. $2,466
Commuter (off-campus) Student Food Plan, per semester. $508
Payment Schedule
Tuition, room, and/or board are due and payable at registration or you may choose a deferred payment plan (below)
Deferred Payment Plan for Full-time Students
FALL SEMESTER
$2,400 due at registration
1/3 of balance September 15
1/3 of balance October 15
1/3 of balance November 15
SPRING SEMESTER
$2,400 due at registration
1/3 of balance due February 15
1/3 of balance due March 15
1/3 of balance due April 15
Payments may be adjusted at each registration. Contact the business office for more information.
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