Understanding St. George's University Veterinary School Tuition and Financial Aid

Pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree is a significant investment. St. George's University (SGU) School of Veterinary Medicine offers various resources and financial aid options to help students manage the costs associated with their education. This article provides a comprehensive overview of tuition, fees, and financial aid opportunities at SGU, including important considerations for prospective and current students.

The Cost of Education at SGU: Tuition and Fees

Tuition represents a substantial investment in your future. SGU bundles most student support services (tech, wellness, and student life) into an Administrative Fee. Health insurance is handled separately depending on student eligibility and may vary by location.

Tuition & Fee Rates

It is important to note that tuition and fee rates vary depending on when a student matriculated into the DVM program.

Matriculated August 2023 or after: Rates effective 5/1/25.
Matriculated January 2023 or prior: Rates effective 5/1/25.

Note: There are no administrative fees for the preclinical program.

Additional Expenses

In addition to tuition and administrative fees, students should budget for other necessary expenses. Each year, the financial aid office estimates normal expenses incurred by students, including:

Books
Transportation
Insurance
Housing
Food
Discretionary spending money

These estimates provide a comprehensive view of the total cost of attendance, enabling students to plan their finances effectively.

Financial Aid Options for SGU Veterinary Students

SGU recognizes that financing a veterinary education requires a combination of resources. The university provides financial aid counseling to meet the diverse needs of its student population. Students rely on a mix of federal loans, scholarships, and careful budgeting to finance their education. SGU's outreach to governments and private lending institutions, combined with its own financial resources, has created a unique offering of loans and other financing options for students worldwide.

US Federal Loans

St. George’s University participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, available to US citizens or permanent residents enrolled in the Basic Science portion of their program in Grenada. This program includes:

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: Eligible students can borrow up to $20,500 per academic year, not exceeding an overall aggregate amount borrowed of $138,500. The interest rate for all Unsubsidized loans with a first disbursement on or after July 1, 2024 is fixed at 8.083%.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan: This loan bridges the gap between Unsubsidized Loans and the remaining cost of attendance. Students must not have an adverse credit history to qualify. The interest rate for all Grad PLUS loans with a first disbursement on or after July 1, 2024 is fixed at 9.083%.

The student will also be required to pay a pre-disbursement loan origination fee on the amount borrowed. Effective October 1, 2021, the origination fee will be 1.057% on Unsubsidized loans and 4.228% on Direct PLUS loans. Loans are typically processed for an academic year and disbursed in two installments, usually 10 days before the start of each academic term.

Under these loan programs, students are responsible for all accruing interest and may choose to repay it while in school or defer it until repayment begins. A 6-month grace period is applied automatically to Federal Direct loans upon graduation, during which no payments are required, though interest continues to accrue. The grace period also applies if a student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time (withdraws or takes a leave of absence).

Read also: Tuition at UARK Law

Students who withdraw, drop below five (5) credits, or graduate must complete online Exit Counseling if they have received a Federal Graduate PLUS loan. Repayment begins 6 months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Monthly repayment amounts are calculated based on the total amount borrowed and the chosen repayment plan.

To apply for US federal loans, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov, using the SGU School of Medicine federal school code: G22333.

Private Educational Loans

Private educational lenders in the United States offer alternate loans to SGU students. US Students can apply for these loans to meet all or part of their cost of attendance. Some lenders may also offer private loan programs for parents, guardians, sponsors, or other individuals who wish to borrow on behalf of the student to help fund their education. These private loan programs are all credit-based and are offered only to borrowers who have a satisfactory credit history as determined by the lender. The loans may have a fixed or variable interest rate that is tied to an index, such as LIBOR or PRIME, plus a margin. The interest rates and fees you pay on a private student loan are based on your credit score and the credit score of your cosigner, if applicable.

St. George’s University does not prefer, recommend, promote, endorse, or suggest any lenders.

Scholarships

SGU offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to recognize and reward exceptional qualities in aspiring medical professionals. Scholarships are awarded each Spring after matriculation into the DVM program.

Veteran’s Benefits

St. George’s University participates in the Department of Veteran Affairs Educational Programs. After initiating Veterans Benefits at SGU, a School Certifying Official will contact students at the beginning of each term. Enrollment is not automatically certified for another term once it has been certified for a term in the current VA year, unless requested otherwise. Payment of benefits can take up to two to four weeks after certification. Eligibility and payment amounts are determined by the VA, not SGU.

Financial Aid for International Students

All International (non-US and non-Canadian) students are eligible to be reviewed for scholarships and need-based bursaries. International Students will need to submit a Confidential Financial Statement (CFS) to be considered for an award. International students may explore personal loan options through banks or financial institutions in their home countries. Many students receive financial support from family members to cover tuition and living expenses. SGU offers limited institutional loans to qualified students to assist with financial gaps on a case-by-case basis.

Canadian Students

St. George’s University is approved by the Canadian Ministry of Education, enabling most students to receive Canadian Federal and/or Provincial Loans. Many Canadian veterinary medicine students supplement their education with lines of credit offered by leading Canadian banks. Family support can also help reduce overall borrowing.

Leave of Absence and Withdrawal Policies

Leave of Absence (LOA)

Students who need to interrupt their studies for part of a term or longer must submit LOA requests electronically via the University Portal and receive written approval from the Office of the Dean of Students. These forms require a reason for the LOA, the student’s signature, and a date. Under federal regulations, a LOA in the Basic Science terms is treated the same as a withdrawal for Title IV purposes. Each school has its own regulations regarding how withdrawn courses are noted on the transcript. Students are advised to seek counseling from the Dean of Students and their Faculty Advisors prior to withdrawal.

If a student has had a prior Leave of Absence during his/her course of study, needs an extension, or has already repeated coursework, the Dean of Students may need to seek approval from the student’s Academic Dean. A request for an extension can be made in the comments section of the LOA form.

Students who take a Leave of Absence during a term may apply for a McCord Scholarship by writing a letter to the Office of Financial Aid requesting consideration for this one-time award. A McCord scholarship is a partial tuition scholarship awarded to students who take a Leave of Absence from a term due to compelling personal circumstances beyond the student’s control, causing them to suffer undue financial hardships which affect their ability to pay for their education upon their return. The scholarship is used to help defray all or part of the penalty paid as a result of the withdrawal. The scholarship committee will review the details of the student’s circumstances noted in their application letter and may require further documentation before determining eligibility for the scholarship.

Title IV Regulations and Withdrawals

In accordance with US Federal Title IV Regulations (34 CFR 668.22), St. George’s University is required by the Higher Education Act to recalculate the eligibility for federal Title IV aid for students who withdraw or take a Leave of Absence (LOA), up to 60% of a term. When a student withdraws or takes a leave during the term, the amount of Title IV program assistance that a student has earned up to the point of withdrawal is determined on a pro-rata basis. The amount earned is based on the number of days the student completes in the term as of the withdrawal date or Leave of Absence begin date for official withdrawals and the last date of documented attendance at an academically related activity as determined by SGU, for unofficial withdrawals.

Special Title IV withdrawal rules apply to terms with modules (courses that do not span the entire length of the term), which may apply to a student’s clinical terms and MD Basic Science Term 3/4. If the student meets any of these conditions, the student is not considered to be withdrawn for Title IV purposes, and all aid received for the term is retained. If grades for the term are not received within 30 days from the date the University determines the student ceased participation, the student will be processed as a Title IV withdrawal.

Repeating Coursework

If a student repeats a course due to a failure and is subsequently unsuccessful in the repeated course, the tuition charges for the repeated course will be reversed. Students who take a Leave of Absence within the term will be charged the published tuition rates when they return to repeat the coursework. Students who take a Leave of Absence during a term may apply for a McCord Scholarship by writing a letter to the Office of Financial Aid requesting consideration for this one-time award.

Financial Planning Strategies

Developing a personalized financial strategy is essential for covering tuition, fees, and living expenses while minimizing unexpected costs.

Budgeting

Careful budgeting is crucial for managing expenses effectively. Students should track their spending and create a budget that aligns with their income and financial aid resources.

Family Support

Family support can significantly reduce overall borrowing. Contributions from family members can help cover tuition and living expenses, decreasing the reliance on loans.

Resources and Support

Financial Aid Counseling

St. George’s University offers financial aid counseling to help students navigate the complexities of financing their education. Counselors can provide personalized advice and guidance on budgeting, loan management, and scholarship opportunities.

AAMC Loan Repayment, Forgiveness, Scholarship, and Other Programs Database

This searchable database provides detailed information about programs available to medical and health professions students, although it is not exhaustive.

VIN Foundation Cost of Education Map

This tool helps prospective students understand the cost of education at different veterinary schools and project potential tuition increases.

The Importance of Minimizing Debt

Graduating with less educational debt provides new veterinarians with a head start on their financial lives. A lighter debt burden translates into more financial, career, and personal flexibility.

Comparing Veterinary School Costs

Veterinary schools have wildly varying costs, and the application process differs for each one. It's essential to understand how much debt you could accumulate upon graduation. Consider factors such as in-state vs. out-of-state tuition, as the price difference can be substantial for the same coursework.

Public vs. Private Institutions

There are five major categories of vet schools ranked by how much they impact your finances post-graduation:

Low-cost in-state public
Moderate-cost in-state public
Out-of-state public
Private
For-profit colleges

Private colleges of vet med may have more of a focus on their research mission than on their educational mission. What’s challenging about private vet schools is that they often carry higher living expenses due to their location.

Caribbean Veterinary Schools

Some students apply to St. George’s University (SGU) as an alternative. The big distinction between these schools and those in the earlier four categories is that Caribbean schools are for profit.

Contact Information

For additional information and assistance, you can contact St. George’s University using the following details:

US/Canada Toll-free: 1 (800) 899-6337 ext. 1232
Worldwide: +1 (631) 665-8500 ext.
George’s University Certifying Official/Financial Aid Counselor Phone: (631) 665-8500 Ext.
Phone: +1 (631) 665-8500 ext.

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