Understanding Drury University Tuition and Costs

Deciding on a college is a huge decision, and understanding the costs involved is a critical part of the process. This article breaks down the various expenses associated with attending Drury University, including tuition, fees, financial aid, and potential debt.

The Sticker Price vs. the Net Price

The first thing to understand is the difference between the "sticker price" and the "net price." The sticker price is the advertised cost of attendance before any financial aid or scholarships are applied. The net price is what students actually pay after these discounts are factored in. This year, the advertised price of attendance is $54,213, while on average students will pay $24,554. That’s a difference of $29,659.

Tuition and Fees

Drury University's tuition is $36,955. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Compared with the national average cost of tuition of $47,097, Drury University is cheaper. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers.

Total Cost of Attendance

As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At Drury University, the total cost is $53,448.

Net Price: What You'll Actually Pay

The net price is the average cost of the university after aid and scholarship funds are discounted from the total cost, which comes in at $26,747 for the average student receiving need-based aid.

How much a student actually pays usually depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. At Drury University this year, we project students with incomes over $110K will pay around $28,354, while students with incomes below $30K will pay around $18,889. That's a difference of $9,465.

Net Price by Income Bracket

Here's a breakdown of the projected net price for the 25-26 school year, based on income bracket:

Less than $30K: $18,889
$30K - $48K: $18,923
$48K - $75K: $21,687
$75K - $110K: $25,449
Greater than $110K: $28,354

Historical Tuition Trends

Looking at historical data can provide insights into how tuition costs have changed over time. Here's a look at the net in-state price and in-state sticker price at Drury University over the past several years:

Year	Net In-State Price	In-State Sticker Price
25-26	$24,554	$54,213
24-25	$23,727	$52,386
23-24	$22,927	$50,621
22-23	$22,194	$49,002
21-22	$20,996	$46,764
20-21	$19,119	$43,809
19-20	$19,190	$42,259
18-19	$19,597	$40,951
17-18	$19,150	$39,451
16-17	$19,706	$38,341
15-16	$22,181	$37,561
14-15	$21,506	$36,241
13-14	$20,999	$34,719

Financial Aid: Making College Affordable

Financial aid refers to funding that students can use to pay for college and is generally awarded based on need or merit.

Need-Based Aid

Need-based aid is determined by your or your family’s demonstrated ability to pay for college, as calculated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Drury University was $27,066. Additionally, 61% of first-year students received need-based financial aid in fall 2023.

Read also: Affording ECU

Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $3,838.

Merit-Based Aid

Merit-based aid, also called non-need-based aid, is awarded for a specific talent or academic achievement. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Drury University - excluding any athletic scholarships, if applicable - was $20,506.

Drury University met 76% of its students’ financial aid need.

Types of Aid Available

Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA.

Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships are a type of funding that you don’t need to pay back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation.

Read also: Withdrawals for College: A Guide

Some students receive enough in scholarship money to cover their tuition and living expenses.

Loan Options

Drury University offers various federal loan options, including:

Award Federal Direct Subsidized Loans: Yes
Award Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Yes
Award Federal Direct PLUS Loans: Yes

Additionally, students may consider private loans from lenders like Sallie Mae, College Ave, and Ascent Funding.

Important Financial Aid Dates

Application Due Not available The last day to apply for financial aid or turn in related paperwork.

Priority Application Due Not available Applications received prior to this date will be given the strongest consideration. Still apply for financial aid if you don’t make this due date.

Notification Date Not available When students receive a letter with the amount and types of aid the college is offering.

Response Due Not available The deadline for students to respond to the college’s aid offer.

Student Loan Debt: What to Expect

How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate.

At Drury University, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $20,979. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $222.

Additionally, 18% of graduating students at Drury University took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $35,217 in private loan debt at graduation.

Average Total Indebtedness of 2024 Graduating Class $36,053

Graduating students who have borrowed (any loan type, 2024) 63%

Graduation Rates and Student Demographics

A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At Drury University, over the last five years 62% of students earned their bachelor’s degree within six years of enrolling.

Students from different demographic backgrounds often graduate at different rates, so it can be helpful to look beyond the overall graduation rate.

Additional Costs and Payment Plans

Beyond tuition and fees, students should also budget for:

Food and Housing: $11,690
Books and Supplies: $1,200 per year
Personal Expenses: $3,700 per year

Drury University’s payment policy requires that all students be either paid in full (net of scholarships and pending financial aid) two weeks prior to the first day of the semester or be current on a payment plan for any balance exceeding scholarships and financial aid. If no aid or payments have been made prior to the first day of the semester, Drury’s payment plan requires 25% of the semester balance be paid to attend classes. A new Payment Plan agreement must be completed for each semester in which you register. If you change your registration, the payment plan will automatically adjust based on your registration. The cost to participate in the payment plan is $50 each semester. The payment methods are automatic bank payment (ACH) or credit/debit card (MasterCard, Discover, and America Express are accepted. An additional fee will be assessed for payment by credit/debit card.) Payments are processed for the fall and summer semesters on the 5th of each month and payments for the summer semester are processed on the 20th of the month.

Any balance not covered by an approved payment plan will be assessed interest at 1% per month on the unpaid balance, or 12% per annum.

Finding Additional Resources

Net Price Calculator: Use the college’s Net Price calculator for the most accurate estimate of your net price.
Student Loans: Find the Best Student Loans for You Advertiser Disclosure Sallie Mae Fixed APR 2.89% to 17.49% with autopay Variable APR 3.75% to 16.37% with autopay College Ave Fixed APR 2.74% to 17.99% with autopay Variable APR 3.89% to 17.99% with autopay Ascent Funding Fixed APR 2.89% to 15.16% with autopay Variable APR 4.17% to 14.83% with autopay

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