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We believe you deserve a high-quality educational experience to achieve your academic and professional goals. We support academic success by providing student-focused services and timely financial assistance, and remove financial barriers in compliance with all federal, state, and University policies.
Our core values center on effective and clear communication, transparency, empowering individuals, and fostering a positive and collaborative environment. We help you navigate various resources to make informed financial decisions.
The Office of Financial Aid staff is here to assist you with all of your education-related financial aid needs. Please contact us at financialaid@scuhs.edu or call us at 562-947-8755 ext. 766
At SCU, we are committed to helping you understand the financial aid process and navigate available resources to aid in your education. Please complete the following steps to start the financial aid process.
If you experience a technical error with our SCU pages, please clear your cache and consider using a different internet browser. If issues persist, please contact our IT department at (877) 796-2350.
Once all steps have been completed, your Financial Aid counselor will review your file for aid eligibility. You will receive an email to review and accept your awards once your financial aid package is complete. Please be advised that all our email communication is sent to your SCUHS email account.
Your family income, size, and the number of people in your family attending college along with the cost of attending SCU are all factors that help determine your financial need. SCU uses formulas established by the federal government to determine need based on the information you provide on the FAFSA.
While financial aid is intended to support only your school expenses, an allowance for indirect costs such as books, course supplies, living expenses, food, personal expenses, and transportation is part of our Cost of Attendance (COA).
The difference between the COA and your student contribution is what is called your financial need.
SCU considers several factors for financial aid eligibility. To qualify, you must:
To apply for a professional judgement, please fill out the digital form to the best of your ability and include supporting documentation. If you have any questions, please contact the financial aid office at financialaid@scuhs.edu.
There are four main types of financial aid for college students including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study funds. Here’s more information about the aid available at SCU.
* Vocational Rehabilitation can be used based on the approval of your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
There are four main types of financial aid for college students including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study funds. Here’s more information about the aid available at SCU.
Cost of Attendance, also referred to as COA, is the total average cost to attend a school.
Below you will find the indirect cost components of the COA for each academic level.
Undergraduate Indirect Cost Components | Estimate Costs per term |
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment | $384.00 |
Transportation | $1,694.00 |
Miscellaneous Expenses | $1,968.00 |
Loan Fees | $111.00 |
Living Expenses | $11,500.00 |
Total | $15,657.00 |
Graduate Indirect Cost Components | Estimate Costs per term |
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment | $700.00 |
Transportation | $1,694.00 |
Miscellaneous Expenses | $1,968.00 |
Loan Fees | $415.00 |
Living Expenses | $11,500.00 |
Total | $16,277.00 |
Cost of obtaining a license, certification, or first professional credential have been added to the COA starting the 2023-2024 Academic Year. Below is the estimated cost per term:
Graduate Programs | Estimate Costs per term |
Doctor of Chiropractic 10* | $600.00 |
Doctor of Chiropractic 12* | $470.00 |
Physician Assistant | $258.00 |
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine | $533.00 |
Occupational Therapy | $274.00 |
*The licensure cost component is added to the COA for continuing students only in the DC program since the first exam takes place after term 5 of the program.
Q: What is included in the COA?
A: The COA includes tuition, fees, and the average cost of books, supplies, room & board, transportation, and personal/miscellaneous costs.
Starting the 2023-24 academic year, the average costs of obtaining a license, certification have been added to the COA for Doctor of Chiropractic, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, and Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine.
The Department of Education allows a school to include these basic necessities in a COA.
Q: Where can I find my COA and how much are my tuition and fees?
A: Your COA is displayed on your financial aid offer letter which can be accessed on your student portal. Please visit your program page for applicable tuition and fees. Remember that tuition and fees are the only items that show up as a mandatory charges on your student account statement. Check with the Financial Aid Office for other specific program cost components.
Q: How can I figure out how much of a refund I can expect to receive?
A: The easiest way to estimate your possible refund is by using the following formula: Maximum loans borrowed – tuition and fees = your estimated refund or living expense.
Keep in mind that most loans have origination (processing) fees that are automatically taken from the amount you applied for, so these calculations are an estimate. There are other factors that may affect your refund as well, such as additional charges for extra units, parking fines, and the types of loans you apply for. Check your billing statement or contact Student Accounts if you have questions about your billing statement and charges.
Examples of refund estimation:
Example 1: $16,500 (gross) loan per term minus $11,400 tuition/fees equals $5,100 estimated refund.
Example 2: $10,250 loan borrowed per term minus $12,000 tuition/fees equals $0 estimated refund.
Example 3: $22,000 loan borrowed per term minus $12,500 tuition/fees equals $9,500 estimated refund.
Since you are responsible for repaying the loan to the lender with interest, it’s best be be prudent with what you borrow.
The Cost and Aid Snapshot includes estimated tuition and fees, standard financial aid, as well as anticipated tuition credits/refund or outstanding balances per term. Please note that these figures are subject to change. Factors such as enrolled units, transferred units, remaining financial aid eligibility, available aid, and individual eligibility can affect your overall cost. Note that other expenses such as books, supplies, equipment transportation, living expenses, etc. are indirect cost components of obtaining a degree. See a full list of our estimated Cost of Attendance per term.
For an accurate portrait of your Financial Aid Award Package, please log into the Financial Aid Portal to view your financial aid award. The loan amounts on the Cost and Aid Snapshot are based on a Grade Level 3 BSHS or Post Baccalaureate student and Grade Level 1 for an Ayurveda student who has an EFC of 0. A full list of tuition and fees can be located under each academic program on www.scuhs.edu.
The Net Price Calculator is an easy-to-use tool that gives an undergraduate student a sense of how much federal, state, and institutional financial aid they may qualify for — based on your unique background and academic history. In less than 5 minutes, you can get a personalized estimate of your actual cost of attending SCU.
This calculator provides Ayurvedic Wellness Educator Certificate students with early financial planning. This calculator will provide an estimate of your cost to attend SCU as well as the federal, state, and institutional financial aid you may qualify for. In just a few minutes you can estimate your potential costs and awards.
We understand that there may be circumstances that affect your ability to pay for college. These changes may not be included in your initial financial aid information. The Financial Aid team is authorized to use professional judgment (PJ) to adjust, on a case-by-case basis, the cost of attendance or the values of the items used in determining the Expected Family Contribution to reflect a student’s special circumstance.
Loss or change of employment
Child Support reduction or change
Divorce/Separation of parents/spouse
Change of marital status for dependent students
Death of parent(s) or spouse
COVID-19 related changes
Examples of Supporting Documentation that must accompany the PJ Application
Undergraduate students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and do not meet the federal definition of an independent student may request a dependency override if the student can document other unusual circumstances that might warrant the treatment of the student as independent for purposes of establishing eligibility for federal and state need-based financial aid. Please note that the following circumstances will not be considered unusual:
Examples of Supporting Documentation that must accompany the PJ Application
Qualifying out-of-pocket costs that may result in an increased Cost of Attendance (COA)/budget can provide eligibility for the student to borrow additional aid. These can include the following:
Examples of Supporting Documentation that must accompany the PJ Application
To apply for a professional judgement, please fill out the digital form to the best of your ability and include supporting documentation. If you have any questions, please contact the financial aid office at financialaid@scuhs.edu.
Use the Professional Judgment Appeal form.
Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) offers a variety of institutional scholarships. The eligibility requirements of each scholarship are listed below. Scholarships are available to incoming undergraduate and graduate students as well as continuing and returning undergraduate and graduate students to SCU.
Complete and submit this application by no later than the published deadline of August 1, 2023. Only those applications received by the published deadline will be considered. Applications received after the published deadline will not be considered. To be eligible for any SCU Scholarship, candidates must be matriculated in a minimum of half-time enrollment status per term for each of the three terms of the academic year (fall, spring, and summer).
Applicants are responsible for verifying that all required documentation is complete and submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
SCU’s Canadian Scholarship is for F-1 Visa Canadian students who are enrolled in the Doctor of Chiropractic program and provides a maximum of a 20% discount on tuition. Students must be continuously enrolled full-time, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, remain in good academic and conduct standing, and adhere to all student rights and responsibilities as outlined in the University Catalog. This scholarship is automatically provided to those who qualify with no application required and is subject to modification based on quarterly reviews by the university.
The Relocation Assistance Program was developed to help students who are relocating to SCU from areas within the U.S. more than 250 miles away from the SCU campus. A student applying for this program must demonstrate financial need. Funding is limited and will be awarded until exhausted.
An eligible student pursuing a degree or certificate can receive a scholarship in the name of the SCU alumni who referred the student. Applicants for the Alumni Relations Referral Assistance Program at the entrance with SCU must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all their undergraduate coursework and demonstrate participation in community service or outreach at their prior institution. Interested applicants must notify the Office of Admissions of the referring alumni’s contact information (full name, email, and phone number) for verification by emailing admissions@scuhs.edu and notifying their Admissions Advisor.
Legacy Scholarship has been designed to acknowledge and recognize the children and grandchildren of SCU alumni who have also chosen to pursue a career in complementary and alternative health care. Students who are awarded the Legacy Scholarship will receive a 5% discount on tuition for each of their 10 terms at SCU provided they maintain a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA. The applicant for this scholarship must provide appropriate documentation of their relationship with the alumnus.
Make the transfer to SCU an easy one by participating in the BSHS Transfer Scholarship saving $100 on every credit hour taken. Students participating in the BSHS Transfer Scholarship are afforded the following services/benefits. A reduction of $100/credit hour for all courses taken as part of the BSHS degree and guaranteed admission to the SCU BSHS program provided the student meets all requirements. BSHS transfer students are eligible to transfer to SCU once they complete 57 credit hours of approved coursework with some transferable coursework from a Partner College. Partner Colleges currently include Rio Hondo College and Santa Monica College. SCU is continuing to grow the number of Partner Colleges, if your school is not on the list, please contact admissions for assistance.
The Standard Process Scholarship was established to recognize academic excellence and the integration of chiropractic, acupuncture study and nutrition. It was made possible by a generous donation from Standard Process. Applications are not accepted at this time. Please continue to check this page for future updates.
The Dana Goodrich Deane Memorial scholarship was created by the Goodrich and Deane families to honor SCU alum, the late Dana Goodrich Deane (DC, 1992). The Dana Goodrich Deane Memorial Scholarship provides an opportunity to financially assist Chiropractic students. This scholarship will be awarded in the Fall term to 2 chiropractic students. The chosen recipients will receive a $15,000 award per year for 2 years, or $5,000 per trimester if fewer than 2 years remain in the program. Applications are not accepted at this time. Please continue to check this page for future updates.
Dr. Stephen and Mrs. Alice Kwan Care and Love Scholarship is a merit and need-based academic scholarship available to candidates for admission to our Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) graduate program at SCU. The scholarship award covers 50% of the DAcCHM program tuition each term the student remains eligible. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to integrative healthcare, demonstrate financial need, and have an entering grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 or higher. In addition to the SCU Scholarship application, three letters of recommendation from supervisors and/or previous or current faculty of courses taken must be submitted as well. These letters can be emailed directly to financialaid@scuhs.edu. Upon notification of scholarship selection, scholarship recipients must also agree to other terms as indicated by the donors.*
The Presidential Scholarship was established by Dr. John Scaringe at the time of his inauguration as President of the Southern California University of Health Sciences to recognize and acknowledge outstanding students at SCU who exhibit leadership in evidence-based, integrative healthcare. The Presidential Scholarship will be awarded once a year. The recipient must be an SCU student in the 6th term or above enrolled in SCU College of Eastern Medicine or Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. Applicants for the Presidential Scholarship must: have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better, demonstrate a history of leadership in evidence-based, integrative health care during their time at SCU, and submit a 500-600 word defining evidence-based practice and integrative medicine. If selected, the award is a one-time $2500 upon notification of selection.
The SCU Alumni Association Scholarship Program was initiated in 1984 to provide financial assistance to outstanding students who exhibit great potential for service and leadership to the University. In line with The Alumni Association’s purpose to foster connection and communication between alumni, the University, and current students, this scholarship is intended to support the recipients’ academic journeys. Scholarships are awarded to up to four (4) individuals attending any of the university’s degree and certificate programs. Consideration will be given to all colleges and programs, but the strength of the application will determine the recipients. The standard scholarship award is $1000, awarded over two terms (Fall and Spring). Especially strong applications may be awarded a “grand prize” scholarship of $2,500, determined through a review of applications by the Alumni Association Scholarship Committee. Up to two (2) grand prize scholarships may be awarded per academic year application cycle.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college.
Upon submission, it can take 5-7 business days for SCU to receive your FAFSA application.
Once the Office of Financial Aid receives your FAFSA and all required documents, your FA counselor will email your award offer to you SCU email. You will be directed to review and accept/decline/amend your aid offer on the student financial aid portal.
Yes. Graduate students can apply for the Direct PLUS loan via https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/. Note that the approval for the Graduate PLUS loan is based on credit. Students can apply for up to the Cost of Attendance, but we recommend that you borrow only what you need.
See the page on Undergraduate Student Aid.
See the page on Graduate Student aid.
Yes. If your financial aid awards exceed your tuition and fees, you may be entitled to a refund/living expense credit that you can use towards books, supplies, and living expenses.
If your financial aid is not enough to cover tuition and fees, you can apply for additional loan sources such as the PLUS loan or private loan.
Please check our Important Dates page that lists the refund release dates for every term.
A Graduate PLUS loan allows graduate students to borrow additional loans that may be used for educational expenses. Unlike the Direct Unsubsidized loan, approval for the PLUS is based on credit. Students can borrow up to their Cost of Attendance (COA). Note that every student’s COA of attendance varies based on program and enrollment status.
For example, if your COA for a single term is $30,351.00, and your initial award offer for the term is is $10,250 in Direct Unsubsidized loans and $6,250 in the Healthcare Unsubsidized Loan, you are eligible to borrow up to $13,851 in the Direct Graduate PLUS loan.
Enter the month of year of the start and end terms you want the PLUS loan to cover. If you want to borrow the PLUS loan for the entire academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer) and you are enrolled in one of our standard calendar programs, enter September 2023 – August 2023.
Students are encouraged to apply for the Graduate PLUS loan each year. The PLUS application for the new academic year usually opens in April. Note that credit approval is only valid for 6 months. You may be asked to reapply again by your FA counselor.
The Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for expenses related to their education. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study.
For a list of available job opportunities, please visit our FWS page.
Yes. All students are assigned a Cost of Attendance (COA) which is comprised of direct costs (tuition and fees) and estimated indirect costs (books, supplies, living expenses, transportation.) The COA serves as a limit of how much financial aid a student can receive per term. Note that grants, loans, scholarships, FWS, state aid are all considered financial aid.
If you are borrowing the maximum amount of loans, we must reduce one of your awards (usually the PLUS) in order to make room for the FWS award.
No. If you wish to continue to participate in FWS, you must complete a new FAFSA and complete a new set of FWS paperwork by June 1st of every year.
Yes! All institutional scholarship opportunities are posted on our scholarship page.
We also have a number of external scholarships posted here.
No. We recommend that you borrow only what you need. Please see our Cost and Aid snapshot tabs.
Your FA counselor awards you the maximum amount of standard aid allowable based on your eligibility. If you are in need of additional aid, you can apply for the Direct Graduate PLUS loan if you are a graduate student or apply for a private loan.
If you are already borrowing the maximum PLUS allowable but still need additional funds, you may be considered for a Professional Judgment. For additional details, click here.
SCU students are assigned to financial aid counselors alphabetically. If your last name begins from A to G, you are assigned to Nida Labao. Those with last names between H and O are assigned to Omar Barrera. If you have a last name that begins with P to Z, your Financial Aid counselor is Janeth Chaidez.
You can email us at financialaid@scuhs.edu or call us at 562-947-8755 Ext. 766.
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