EDGE Program Details
The Union EDGE program is a two year, 48-hour Postsecondary Education Program for students between the ages of 18-26 with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This program is based on the Think College national standards. Graduating students will receive a 2-year certificate, not a degree.
Our Mission
Through receiving a Christ-centered Christian higher education, graduates are equipped with improved academic, social, communication, and job skills to
that they may serve Church and society through their personal and vocational life.
Academic Life
Students will take 12 hours each semester (6 hours by audit with a learning contract and 6 hours credit-bearing life skills courses), along with an internship each year.
Students may choose to live on or off campus. Students who live on campus must be able to take care of their daily needs. Life skills courses will focus on independent
living and career-related skills that may give them the option to live independently and become admirable employees.
Catalogue Description (2024-25)
Social Life
Accepted students will be encouraged to fully immerse in the life of the university including organizations, social clubs, attending ball games with their friends and mentors.
Costs
The Union EDGE program will be $10,000 per semester (for 2025-26 - Estimated Financial Aid Budget).
Estimated Financial Aid Budget is used in part to help determine a student's financial aid eligibility and to estimate costs associated with attending college. It is not meant to be the exact costs every student will pay, but a standard estimate that is used for all categories of students for financial aid purposes. Some costs are Direct Costs, meaning they are charged to a student as part of your bill through the University. Other costs are Indirect Costs, meaning a student would not be billed for them — but they are costs to consider when evaluating what is needed to attend for a given period of time. Your costs may vary based on your individual decisions or circumstances.
COA for EDGE students during 2025-2026
| Direct Costs (these are the costs that would be part of your student bill as an EDGE student) |
| Tuition |
$20,000 |
Block rate at $10,000 per semester. |
| Mandatory Fees |
$1,350 |
Block rate at $675 per semester. |
| Housing |
$10,200 |
This is an average of on-campus cost for Heritage and the Quads; your costs could differ depending on your housing option. |
| Food/Meals |
$6,400 |
This is the 285 meal-plan; your costs could differ depending on your meal-plan selection. |
| Total Direct Costs |
$37,950 |
This is prior to any applied financial aid — but GREAT news, financial aid is available! |
| |
| Indirect Costs (these are costs you may incur in attending college but are not billed to you by the university) |
| Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment |
$300 |
This is an estimate; your costs could differ depending on how you obtain your books and required course materials or supplies.
|
| Transportation |
$2,040 |
This is an estimate for transportation fees you may incur over the year for items such as traveling to class or trips home; your costs could vary greatly depending on your situation. |
| Personal Expenses |
$6,490 |
This is an estimate of costs for day-to-day expenses you may have over the next academic year. Your costs could vary greatly based on your situation and financial decisions. |
| Total Indirect Costs |
$8,830 |
|
| |
| Total COA |
$46,780 |
Total allowable Cost of Attendance for EDGE students (prior to application of any financial aid eligibility) |
The Union EDGE program will be $9,000 per semester (for 2024-25 - Estimated Financial Aid Budget).
Estimated Financial Aid Budget is used in part to help determine a student's financial aid eligibility and to estimate costs associated with attending college. It is not meant to be the exact costs every student will pay, but a standard estimate that is used for all categories of students for financial aid purposes. Some costs are Direct Costs, meaning they are charged to a student as part of your bill through the University. Other costs are Indirect Costs, meaning a student would not be billed for them — but they are costs to consider when evaluating what is needed to attend for a given period of time. Your costs may vary based on your individual decisions or circumstances.
COA for EDGE students during 2024-2025
| Direct Costs (these are the costs that would be part of your student bill as an EDGE student) |
| Tuition |
$18,000 |
Block rate at $9,000 per semester. |
| Mandatory Fees |
$1,350 |
Block rate at $675 per semester. |
| Housing |
$9,300 |
This is an average of on-campus cost for Heritage and the Quads; your costs could differ depending on your housing option. |
| Food/Meals |
$6,000 |
This is the 285 meal-plan; your costs could differ depending on your meal-plan selection. |
| Total Direct Costs |
$34,650 |
This is prior to any applied financial aid — but GREAT news, financial aid is available! |
| |
| Indirect Costs (these are costs you may incur in attending college but are not billed to you by the university) |
| Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment |
$300 |
This is an estimate; your costs could differ depending on how you obtain your books and required course materials or supplies.
|
| Transportation |
$1,944 |
This is an estimate for transportation fees you may incur over the year for items such as traveling to class or trips home; your costs could vary greatly depending on your situation. |
| Personal Expenses |
$6,372 |
This is an estimate of costs for day-to-day expenses you may have over the next academic year. Your costs could vary greatly based on your situation and financial decisions. |
| Total Indirect Costs |
$8,616 |
|
| |
| Total COA |
$43,266 |
Total allowable Cost of Attendance for EDGE students (prior to application of any financial aid eligibility) |
If a student chooses to live on campus, the residential fees will be the same as the traditionally enrolled students.
Financial Assistance
Students accepted into the Union EDGE Program may be eligible to receive the STEP UP Scholarship through the State of Tennessee.
TN STEP UP Scholarship
Financial Assistance for EDGE Students
2023-24 Student Resources (.pdf)
Application Process
We ask that the student participate in its completion as much as they are able.
Once the completed packet has been received in the Union EDGE office, all materials will be reviewed. Please allow two - four weeks for this process.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. We will then contact the applicants to set up the on campus interview.
Union EDGE will accept 8 students per year.
Our application window is Oct. - Feb. of each year
Apply Online
