Carolina University prints $250 per credit for first responder undergraduates, about $6,000 a year, on 100% online degrees, and the same rate goes to spouses and dependent children. The page defines no job list and doesn’t print a proof requirement, so the first call is to admissions.
Carolina describes itself as an accredited, nonprofit, private Christian university. Its first responder page promises “No GPA Requirement,” in the words “your service is proof enough of your capacity to succeed,” plus dedicated first responder advisors for admissions, tuition benefits and career planning. For someone who hasn’t sat in a classroom in years, that’s one less worry before day one.
How To Get The Carolina University First Responder Discount
- Open the first responder page with the button below and submit your application. The page says an Admissions Officer will follow up with you directly.
- Send any required items, such as transcripts, to that Admissions Officer.
- If your department offers tuition assistance, contact its HR office. The page says tuition assistance can still be applied in addition to the tuition discount.
- Ask admissions to confirm in writing the per-credit rate for your degree level, which is the step the next sections explain.
Who Qualifies, In The School’s Words
The page says Carolina serves “first responders, spouses, and their dependent children.” It doesn’t list jobs. Two student quotes on the page come from a full time law enforcement officer and a retired major of a sheriff’s office, but a testimonial isn’t an eligibility rule, so don’t read one into it. If you’re a firefighter, paramedic, dispatcher or corrections officer, call and ask. If you’re retired or volunteer, ask that too.
The Rate, And Where Carolina’s Two Pages Disagree
On the undergraduate rate, both Carolina pages agree: $250 per credit, about $6,000 a year. The first responder page also prints master’s and PhD amounts, and the online tuition page prints different ones for those two levels. We aren’t printing either set. Ask admissions which is current for the degree you want.
The online tuition page also lists annual fees on top of tuition. For the first responder undergraduate rate it shows $6,000 in tuition, $2,080 in fees and an estimated annual total of $8,080. That same page says, “With tuition this low, CU does not provide discounts or scholarships for online students.” The page doesn’t say whether that line applies to the first responder rate, so ask about it before you apply.
Credit For What You’ve Already Done
The page lists Credit for BLET, with one year of credit in select undergraduate programs, and Prior Learning Credit that turns work and other professional experience into college credit. Which programs count as “select” isn’t on the page. Bring your training records to the first call and ask.
Q&A
Q: What does Carolina University charge first responders?
A: For undergraduates, $250 per credit, about $6,000 a year. For master’s and PhD levels, ask admissions, because Carolina’s own pages print different amounts.
Q: Do spouses and children get the rate?
A: Yes. The page says spouses and dependent children are eligible for the same discount rates.
Q: Do I have to take classes on campus?
A: No. The page promises 100% online degrees.
Q: Can I use my department’s tuition assistance too?
A: The page says tuition assistance can still be applied in addition to the tuition discount. Your HR office handles the department side.
Q: Are there fees besides tuition?
A: The online tuition page lists annual fees beyond tuition. Ask admissions for the current figure.
Q: Is there another school to compare?
A: Our Liberty University page covers a different school’s program. To reach Carolina, the page lists 336-725-8344 and [email protected].
More Information:
Carolina can change its rates, so read its first responder page before you apply. For more ways to save, browse our money discounts. You can also see it alongside other options in How First Responders Can Save Thousands on College Tuition: The Best Schools Offering Tuition Discounts.