Pursue your unique passion and forge your own educational path with an individualized major

Next entry for this program: Feb 2024Apply Now >

Select the courses that fulfill your unique vision
Gain real-world skills through optional internships
Receive extensive guidance from expert advisors
Thrive in a community focused on personal growth

Next entry:
Feb 2024Apply
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Are you highly motivated?

With our Individualized Major, you’ll mold classes from our existing programs along with internship options into a one-of-a-kind degree that fulfills your own personal vision.

Some Individualized Majors our students have designed include:

Consciousness-Based Community Development
Agro-ecology & Sustainability
Creativity for Social Change

You can also blend majors together to graduate sooner by focusing specifically on your area of interest. You’ll be guided through the creation process of your major by an academic advisor who will help you every step of the way.

Get started by contacting Sunita

Sunita Martin is this program’s admissions counselor for US students. Sunita will provide you with all the details of becoming a student, including connecting you with program faculty when you have questions. International students may connect with their admissions counselor through our contact form.

Contact Sunita >

How it works

After you enroll at MIU you create a written proposal summarizing your proposed major and its set of courses. Courses in the Individualized Major are flexible as you progress, allowing your degree to grow with your vision. Students with a large number of transfer credits can be fast-tracked into the Individualized Major soon after arrival on campus.

See how it all connects

At the end of your program, you’ll prepare a senior thesis tying together what you’ve learned. Through our unique system of Consciousness-Based education, you’ll connect at the deepest level everything you’ve learned and see how it fits into your own life.

Our close-knit campus and online community will support your personal and academic growth, providing a positive, encouraging environment where you can become your best self.

Get started by contacting Sunita

Sunita Martin is this program’s admissions counselor for US students. Sunita will provide you with all the details of becoming a student, including connecting you with program faculty when you have questions. International students may connect with their admissions counselor through our contact form.

Contact Sunita >

Next entry: Feb 2024Apply Now >

Full immersion in each subject

In our block system, you’ll take only one course at a time, fully immersing yourself in that subject. This approach enables you to learn more with less stress, with a deeper understanding and better retention of the course material.

You’ll also enjoy stronger connections with your professors and classmates—and you’ll never have to contend with a nerve-wracking finals week!

Transcendental Meditation

All MIU students practice the Transcendental Meditation technique daily. This effortless, evidence-based technique has been found to enhance practical intelligence and creativity, promote clear, insightful thinking, and greatly reduce stress. Learn more ➤

Featured faculty

Catherine Gorini

Catherine Gorini is Director of the Individualized Major and Professor of Mathematics. She received an Award for Outstanding College Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America in 2001. Her research interests include Maharishi’s Vedic Mathematics; using the Transcendental Meditation® technique in the teaching of mathematics; geometry and symmetry; undergraduate mathematics education; using Geometer’s Sketchpad to study Euclidean geometry or analytic geometry; using JavaSketchpad to create interactive geometry web pages. Cathy received her MA and PhD from the University of Virginia and did her undergraduate work in mathematics at Cornell University.

“Instead of molding myself into a major, I wanted to create a major that expresses who I am. I’m able to pick courses that are immediately applicable, so I can start using what I learned immediately. I really appreciate that.”

— Aditi Gentsch

Individualized Major

Cost & Aid, 2023-24

US On-Campus Students

US Online Students

Tuition is based on the total number of credits per semester – two semesters per year. Typically, enrollment is two courses at a time (full-time) or one course at a time (3/4 time)

¾ time per semester (9-11 credits)

US Online Undergraduate, ¾ time

The example below can vary by FAFSA analysis of independent student finances or dependent family finances.

Semester Cost and Typical Financial Aid
Tuition and fees	$4,895
Federal grants (maximum)	-$2,450
Net cost per semester	$2,445
Federal student loan	-$2,445
Your payment	$0

Additional Financial Aid Information

Federal Grants

Federal grants are available for full-time and part-time students. The grants vary depending on income level as determined by the FAFSA, and by credit load per semester. Students in higher-income categories may not qualify for federal grants.

Employer Waiver Program

Many companies offer tuition assistance programs to their employees. If you’re currently employed, we encourage you to check on this. If they offer assistance, please contact MIU’s Financial Aid office.

Scholarship from MIU

Part-time online students benefit from a proportionately lower tuition than the full-time rate. For example, a half-time student’s tuition is less than half the full-time tuition. Because these discounts are included in the part-time tuition, an additional MIU scholarship isn’t available for part-time students.

Federal Student Loans

Federal Student Loans have limits based on lifetime usage, annual limits, and limited to the educational costs for each semester. Here are the annual maximum limits:

$5,500 per year for first-year dependent
$6,500 per year for second-year dependent
$7,500 per year for third, fourth, fifth-year dependent
$9,500 per year for first-year independent
$10,500 per year for second-year independent
$12,500 per year for third, fourth, fifth-year independent

Federal Student Loan Repayment

Federal Student Loan Repayment is postponed as long as you are enrolled at least half-time each semester. If your enrollment drops below half-time, you have a six-month grace period before repayment begins. There are also postponements for low income and unemployment, as well as repayment based on income and Public Service Forgiveness.

Education Tax Incentives

There are a variety of money-saving tax benefits to assist in reducing the cost of education expenses. More about education tax benefits.

Veterans

Veterans should contact the VA for information on Veterans Education Benefits. Veterans eligible for BAH monthly benefits: The VA utilizes a scale of credits per block of courses; therefore, the VA sometimes pays part-time benefits for an individual month while the university delivers full-time federal aid for an entire semester. Our Veterans Certifying Official is our Director of Financial Aid.

Loan Repayment Options

Standard

Payments are a fixed amount that ensures your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).

Extended

Payments may be fixed or graduated and will ensure that your loans are paid off within 25 years.

Graduated

Payments are lower at first and then increase, usually every two years, and are for an amount that will ensure your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).

Income-Based

Your monthly payments will be either 10 or 15 percent of discretionary income (depending on when you received your first loans), but never more than you would have paid under the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan.

Income Contingent

Payments are recalculated each year and are based on your updated income, family size, and the total amount of your Direct Loans. Any outstanding balance will be forgiven if you haven’t repaid your loan in full after 25 years.

Income Sensitive

Your monthly payment is based on annual income, but your loan will be paid in full within 15 years.

Tuition, other fees, scholarships, and financial policies are subject to change prior to the entry date. For more information, contact us at finaid@miu.edu for a quick reply — normally one business day — or see more about financial aid.

½ time per semester (6-8 credits)

US Online Undergraduate, ½ time

The example below can vary by FAFSA analysis of independent student finances or dependent family finances.

Semester Cost and Typical Financial Aid
Tuition and fees	$2,895
Federal grants (maximum)	-$1,850
Net cost per semester	$1,045
Federal student loan	-$1,045
Your payment	$0

Additional Financial Aid Information

Federal Grants

Federal grants are available for full-time and part-time students. The grants vary depending on income level as determined by the FAFSA, and by credit load per semester. Students in higher-income categories may not qualify for federal grants.

Employer Waiver Program

Many companies offer tuition assistance programs to their employees. If you’re currently employed, we encourage you to check on this. If they offer assistance, please contact MIU’s Financial Aid office.

Scholarship from MIU

Part-time online students benefit from a proportionately lower tuition than the full-time rate. For example, a half-time student’s tuition is less than half the full-time tuition. Because these discounts are included in the part-time tuition, an additional MIU scholarship isn’t available for part-time students.

Federal Student Loans

Federal Student Loans have limits based on lifetime usage, annual limits, and limited to the educational costs for each semester. Here are the annual maximum limits:

$5,500 per year for first-year dependent
$6,500 per year for second-year dependent
$7,500 per year for third, fourth, fifth-year dependent
$9,500 per year for first-year independent
$10,500 per year for second-year independent
$12,500 per year for third, fourth, fifth-year independent

Federal Student Loan Repayment

Federal Student Loan Repayment is postponed as long as you are enrolled at least half-time each semester. If your enrollment drops below half-time, you have a six-month grace period before repayment begins. There are also postponements for low income and unemployment, as well as repayment based on income and Public Service Forgiveness.

Education Tax Incentives

There are a variety of money-saving tax benefits to assist in reducing the cost of education expenses. More about education tax benefits.

Veterans

Veterans should contact the VA for information on Veterans Education Benefits. Veterans eligible for BAH monthly benefits: The VA utilizes a scale of credits per block of courses; therefore, the VA sometimes pays part-time benefits for an individual month while the university delivers full-time federal aid for an entire semester. Our Veterans Certifying Official is our Director of Financial Aid.

Loan Repayment Options

Standard

Payments are a fixed amount that ensures your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).

Extended

Payments may be fixed or graduated and will ensure that your loans are paid off within 25 years.

Graduated

Payments are lower at first and then increase, usually every two years, and are for an amount that will ensure your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).

Income-Based

Your monthly payments will be either 10 or 15 percent of discretionary income (depending on when you received your first loans), but never more than you would have paid under the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan.

Income Contingent

Payments are recalculated each year and are based on your updated income, family size, and the total amount of your Direct Loans. Any outstanding balance will be forgiven if you haven’t repaid your loan in full after 25 years.

Income Sensitive

Your monthly payment is based on annual income, but your loan will be paid in full within 15 years.

Tuition, other fees, scholarships, and financial policies are subject to change prior to the entry date. For more information, contact us at finaid@miu.edu for a quick reply — normally one business day — or see more about financial aid.

Less than ½ time (4 credits)

US Online Undergraduate, less than ½ time (4 credits)

The example below can vary by FAFSA analysis of independent student finances or dependent family finances.

Cost – less than ½ time
Tuition	$2,000
Federal grants (maximum)	-$900
Net cost	$1,100
Federal student loans (not available)	0
Your payment	$1,100

Tuition, other fees, scholarships, and financial policies are subject to change prior to the entry date. For more information, contact us at finaid@miu.edu for a quick reply — normally one business day — or see more about financial aid.

Full-Time (12 or more credits)

International Online Students

International Online Undergraduate

Typically, online enrollment is two courses at a time (17 credits) or one course at a time (9 credits), per semester (two semesters per year).

Tuition and Fees per Semester
Full-time (12 or more credits)	$8,095
¾ time (9-11 credits)	$4,895
½ time (6-8 credits)	$2,895
Fewer than 5 credits	$500 per credit

Tuition, other fees, scholarships, and financial policies are subject to change prior to the entry date.

Next Steps

Get your questions answered
and download our free booklet.

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Sign up for one-on-one virtual visits,
Visitors Weekend, or Visitors Saturday.

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Our next entries:
Feb 2024 and Aug 2024

Apply >

Individualized Majoronline or on-campus

Are you highly motivated?

Get started by contacting Sunita

How it works

See how it all connects

Get started by contacting Sunita

Full immersion in each subject

Transcendental Meditation

Featured faculty

Catherine Gorini

Cost & Aid, 2023-24

US Online Undergraduate, ¾ time

Additional Financial Aid Information

Loan Repayment Options

US Online Undergraduate, ½ time

Additional Financial Aid Information

Loan Repayment Options

US Online Undergraduate, less than ½ time (4 credits)

International Online Undergraduate

Next Steps

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