Frequently Asked Questions (Information for those who are interested in applying to Shenandoah University and want to be considered for the Tuition Exchange Scholarship)
You are eligible to apply for a TES if you have a parent or spouse who is employed at a Tuition Exchange institution (referred to as the host institution) and the host institution certifies your eligibility for Tuition Exchange consideration. The employee themselves may also be eligible to apply for TES consideration.
At Shenandoah University, there are two required components to be considered for the TES. A student must first go through the normal application process with Admissions and be accepted to Shenandoah University. A student must also submit a Tuition Exchange application at https://www.tuitionexchange.org/ or https://cic.edu/networks/tuition-exchange-program/.
Tuition Exchange.Inc (tuitionexchange.org) and CIC Tuition Exchange Program are both “tuition exchange networks” that Shenandoah University belongs to. Students can submit applications through one or both portals depending on the college/university they are applying to.
You should apply no later than January 31st for the Tuition Exchange Scholarship. This is our priority application date. Your Tuition Exchange application will only be reviewed once we confirm your acceptance into Shenandoah University.
All TES notifications are emailed by March 15th. Some students who apply for TES and are admitted into Shenandoah may be placed on a TES waiting list. If this occurs, Shenandoah University will do its best to notify any waitlisted TES applicants of the final decision no later than the first year enrollment deposit due date of May 1.
The TES covers tuition at Shenandoah University for up to 8 consecutive semesters. Students who were awarded institutional aid, such as an academic scholarship, will have this deducted or canceled once they are deemed eligible for a TES. Also, if the student is a Virginia resident, they must complete the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) application. This will be deducted from the TES, even if they do not apply for this grant. Applicants who are deemed ineligible for VTAG will have this amount covered by the TES. Any student who qualifies for Federal Pell Grant or Federal SEOG will have these amounts deducted from the Tuition Exchange amount.
Shenandoah University’s TES covers the cost of tuition only. It does not cover any housing, institutional or programmatic fees, such as Conservatory or Nursing fees. It also does not cover books, supplies, or other fees like a parking permit. It does not cover GEL trips or Study Abroad expenses. If the student goes into overload, the additional tuition expense would be the responsibility of the student.
We strongly encourage all prospective students to complete the FAFSA to be eligible for Federal, State, and Institutional financial aid options to help cover additional expenses beyond tuition. You are however not required to apply for need-based financial aid at Shenandoah University in order to be considered for a Tuition Exchange Scholarship.
Once a student is provided with the TES, Shenandoah University will continue providing the scholarship for a maximum of eight (8) consecutive semesters at the undergraduate level. The following conditions will need to be met:
- The recipient must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA each semester. Please also be aware of your specific program’s GPA requirements as a higher cumulative GPA may be required.
- Continue to be eligible for TE and be certified by the host institution
- Continue to be enrolled at Shenandoah University
- If a TE student is not enrolled at Shenandoah University for longer than one semester, the student will lose the TES and will need to re-apply to be re-considered to receive any future TES funding.
- If a TE student withdraws during a semester, the semester that the student is withdrawing from will still count towards the total number of eligible semesters allowed for TE.
SU has approximately 60-80 students apply for tuition exchange scholarships annually and on average 6-8 new applicants from a variety of majors are offered the TES each year. This is a highly competitive scholarship program and it is not a guarantee that a Tuition Exchange Scholarship will be offered.
Yes, you can re-apply. However, preference is given to first time, first year applicants. You may be placed on the Tuition Exchange Waitlist.
Yes. However, preference is given to first time, first year applicants.
Yes, graduate students will be considered for the TES. If the TES is offered to a graduate student, it will cover tuition for the duration of the graduate program. The graduate student would need to maintain at least a 2.5 GPA to maintain eligibility for the TES.
No, it will not automatically transfer. You will need to submit a Tuition Exchange application to Shenandoah University. This application will be reviewed along with the other Tuition Exchange applications. It would be advisable to get the application to Shenandoah by January 31st which is our priority application date.
Contact the TE Liaison Officer at the host institution (where your parent is employed) or visit www.tuitionexchange.org for general information. If you have specific questions about Shenandoah University’s TES, contact the Office of Financial Aid at Shenandoah University (540) 665-4538 or finaid@su.edu.