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Graduate Students

Reach Higher

The Graduate Programs at Saint Vincent College are committed to providing quality graduate education. Our dedicated faculty and staff are here to assist you during your graduate studies. Our programs are designed to enable graduate students to integrate their professional aims with the broader purposes of human life.

We offer the flexibility that you need and affordability you'll appreciate. Our graduate tuition is highly competitive and more affordable than other programs in our area. You’ll receive a high quality education and opportunity for professional development at a price within your budget. 

Furthering your education at Saint Vincent College is the next step in career advancement and personal development.   

  • Tuition and Fees for 2023-2024

    Please see our current cost of attendance.

  • Discounts

    Alumni
    Saint Vincent College alumni receive a 15% discount on graduate courses for degrees that do not have an enrollment limit. Graduate students taking undergraduate level coursework enjoy a 50% discount on all undergraduate coursework. 

    The Alumni graduate tuition discount may not be applied with any of our other discounts.

    Military/Law Enforcement Discount
    Active duty members of the military, members of the reserve units and law enforcement officials receive a 15% discount on graduate school tuition for our business, criminology and education graduate programs. When completing your application, please note in the “Employer” field in which branch of the military you are currently serving or your law enforcement affiliation. Our affordable rates and flexible class offerings mean you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year, or build it around your military or law enforcement duties. Coupled with your experiences, a master’s degree from Saint Vincent College will make you an attractive candidate for continued advancement in your field.

    For more information or for assistance with your application, please contact the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education at 724-805-2933 or gradadmission@stvincent.edu.

    The Military/Law Enforcement discount may not be applied with any of our other discounts.

    Good Neighbor Discount
    Saint Vincent College values the community in which it has been situated for 170 years. To celebrate that relationship, we have established the Good Neighbor discount.

    Students in our graduate business, criminology, and education programs are eligible for a 10% Good Neighbor discount off their tuition if they live or work in Westmoreland County.

    To register for the discount, simply email gradadmission@stvincent.edu, and indicate the program in which you are currently enrolled or plan to enroll. Please attach a copy of your driver’s license or other proof of residency if you live in Westmoreland County, or proof of employment at a business situated in Westmoreland County – an employee identification card or a pay stub, for example.

    The Good Neighbor Discount may not be combined with other discounts.

    If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education at 724-805-2933.

    Thanks for being a Good Neighbor!

  • Financial Aid

    Loans

    Federal Direct Loans
    Graduate students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may be eligible to borrow a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The annual limit on this loan is $20,500. The loan is available to degree-seeking students enrolled at least half-time (5 credits). The loan carries an origination fee of 1.057% (subject to change 10/1/24) that is deducted prior to disbursement of funds and a fixed interest rate of 7.05% for loans disbursed through June of 2024 (subject to change 7/1/24). Students can borrow up to the Cost of Attendance less any other financial aid. Repayment is deferred until 6 months after graduation or a drop to less than half-time enrollment. Students are encouraged to borrow responsibly and to make interest payments whenever possible. Please go to https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans for further information. 

    Federal Direct Graduate PLUS
    Loans for students in need of additional funding up to the Cost of Attendance, may seek to borrow under the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan program. This credit-based loan is available to degree-seeking students enrolled at least half-time (5 credits). The loan carries an origination fee of 4.228% (subject to change 10/1/24) that is deducted prior to disbursement of funds and a fixed interest rate of 8.05% for loans disbursed through June of 2023 (subject to change 7/1/24). Students can borrow up to the Cost of Attendance less any other financial aid. Repayment is deferred until 6 months after graduation or a drop to less than half-time enrollment. Students are encouraged to borrow responsibly and to make interest payments whenever possible. Please go to https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans for further information.

    Alternative Loans
    Additional private loans, generally referred to as “alternative loans,” may also be available to students. Payment can usually be deferred until graduation, but interest accrues from the time the loan is disbursed.

    The list of lenders is available online through www.ELMSelect.com. This summary information is intended only as a guide for comparison purposes. Many other options exist for supplemental borrowing.  You are NOT required to use any of the loans or lenders listed on this guide. Please consider the lender and loan product that best meets your needs. More information and a list of private lenders can also be found at www.finaid.org. A list of Pennsylvania Credit unions who offer private loans can be found at https://www.studentchoice.org along with their requirements. Please refer to the lender for updated information before making your choice. Rates, Terms and Conditions are subject to change without notice. 

    Graduate Assistantships

    Saint Vincent College offers a few graduate assistant positions. When positions are available, they are listed on the Human Resources page within their job listings.  Students are required to work 20 hours a week and are paid an hourly wage. Positions are limited and highly competitive.

  • Financial Aid Process

    1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at  www.fafsa.gov/. You will file the FAFSA each year beginning October 1st using prior year federal income tax returns.  You will need to establish an FSA User ID.
    2. Complete an Entrance Counseling session, as required by the Department of Education, at https://studentaid.gov/. Entrance Counseling ensures that you fully understand your rights and responsibilities as a student borrower to repay your loans. 
    3. Complete and sign your Federal Direct Master Promissory Note electronically at https://studentaid.gov/. The promissory note contains the terms and conditions of the loan. 
    4. Receive a financial aid notification outlining your aid eligibility. Remember, you may choose to keep the loan(s) – fully or in part – or decline it. Be aware that your financial aid can change throughout the year as a result of verification, or a change in number of credits – full-time – halftime, or below halftime. 
    5. Veterans are encouraged to visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website,  http://benefits.va.gov/gibill/ to apply for benefits.  To contact SVC’s School Certifying Official, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 724.805.2720 or email registar@stvincent.edu
  • Payment Plans

    Employer Reimbursement Deferment Plan
    Graduate students who receive tuition reimbursement do not have to pay upfront and wait for their employer to reimburse them. We offer a $25 deferment plan that allows you to defer your tuition until the end of the term and pay your bill once you receive your reimbursement from your employer.

    Monthly Payment Plan
    We also offer monthly payment plans and students can work with financial aid for loans to cover the cost of their tuition.

    For further information, contact the Saint Vincent College Business Office at 724-805-2248.

  • Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

    Federal law (Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended) mandates that institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving any federal financial aid. Eligibility for Saint Vincent College institutional grants and scholarships will follow the regulations for federal aid. 

    Students must meet these standards of academic progress to continue to receive federal loan funds.

    The academic records of all students will be reviewed annually after each spring semester to calculate the percentage of attempted credits the student has successfully completed and to determine the cumulative grade point average the student has earned. Any student not meeting the standards set by this policy will be ineligible for aid until the deficiencies have been made up.  An appeal process is available to students who have experienced personal illness or accident, death of an immediate family member, or other extraordinary circumstances. 

    Note:  The FAFSA must be filed yearly to receive federal Direct Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS Loans

    Federal Student Aid
    Direct Unsubsidized Loans & Graduate PLUS Loans 
    Requirement: 3.0 cumulative GPA for students in a graduate/professional program
    Credits Earned Requirement: All students must have earned at least 67% of the cumulative number of credits attempted, including all credits attempted at Saint Vincent and all credits transferred in from other institutions that count toward the degree.

    Total credits attempted cannot exceed 150% of the credits required of the published length of the program.  All courses with a grade designated as G,IP,W, & WF and repeated course are considered attempted.

  • Deadlines

    Graduate students planning to enroll at Saint Vincent College should submit their application no later than two weeks from the beginning of the semester in which they would like to enroll.

Admission Information

Office of Graduate and Continuing Education
Phone: 724-805-2933
Email: gradadmission@stvincent.edu