How to Pay for CDL School in Louisiana
Figuring out how to pay for CDL school is one of the first steps toward a truck driving career. At Diesel Driving Academy (DDA), students use federal financial aid, Louisiana workforce grants, GI Bill® benefits, payment plans, or a mix of these to cover the cost of Class A CDL training.
Students start by meeting with a DDA Financial Assistance Officer. The officer helps each student find the best ways to pay and walks them through the FAFSA and other applications. Students don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out.
Ways to Pay for Truck Driver Training at DDA
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Students apply for federal student aid by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). DDA offers these federal aid programs for eligible programs:
- Federal Pell Grant: A need-based grant from the U.S. Department of Education. DDA’s financial aid office calculates each student’s exact award.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): A limited federal grant for students with the greatest financial need.
- Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans: Student loans from the U.S. Department of Education that must be repaid.
- Federal Direct PLUS Loans: Loans that let parents of dependent students help pay for training.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
WIOA is a federal job training program run in Louisiana by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. It can pay tuition for eligible adults, dislocated workers, and youth who enroll in an approved training program. Students start by contacting their local Business and Career Solutions Center, where a counselor checks eligibility. If approved, WIOA pays DDA directly.
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)
TAA helps workers who lost their jobs because of foreign trade pay for job training. The local Business and Career Solutions Center can confirm eligibility.
VA Education Benefits
DDA is approved to accept VA education benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, the Montgomery GI Bill®, and Veteran Readiness and Employment.. Students can also read about using the GI Bill for CDL training.
Louisiana Vocational Rehabilitation
Louisiana Vocational Rehabilitation helps people with disabilities train for a job. DDA works with Vocational Rehabilitation counselors to set up training funds.
Payment Plans and Direct Payment
DDA offers payment plans that spread the cost of training over time. DDA’s admissions team can help build a plan that makes getting started easier.
Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Some trucking companies repay part of a new driver’s training cost after hire, often in monthly payments during the first year. DDA’s job placement team connects graduates with carriers, and each company sets its own reimbursement terms.
How to Get Started at DDA
- Request information. Call or contact DDA online.
- Meet with DDA admissions and financial aid staff. They review each payment option with the student.
- Apply for aid. Students file the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov, contact a Business and Career Solutions Center for WIOA or TAA, or apply for VA benefits at VA.gov.
- Review the award notice. DDA gives each student a written notice showing each funding source and any amount owed.
- Finish paperwork before class starts. Payment or approved funding must be in place before the class start date.
Is Truck Driving School Worth the Money?
DDA’s Baton Rouge and Shreveport campuses rank among the top 10% of U.S. colleges for return on investment, based on data from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. The study shows that DDA graduates earn strong wages compared to what they paid for training.
CDL training is an investment in a new career. Before choosing a school, students should look at what they get in return, including how soon they can start working, how much they can earn, and what opportunities open up after training. DDA’s job placement team helps graduates find work with local and national carriers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a student fill out the FAFSA?
A few weeks before the planned start date is best. DDA needs the FAFSA results before it can finalize federal aid.
Do Pell Grants have to be paid back?
No. Pell Grants usually do not have to be paid back.
Can a student with bad credit get federal student loans?
Yes. Federal Direct Loans for students do not require a credit check, but Parent PLUS loans do.
Can a student who already has a college degree get a Pell Grant?
Usually no. Pell Grants are only for students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree.
What happens to financial aid if a student drops out?
DDA figures out how much aid the student earned based on the time spent in class. Unearned federal aid goes back to the government, and the student may owe DDA the rest.
Does DDA help pay for the CDL license fee?
Yes. DDA pays back up to $61.50 of the state CDL fee when the student turns in a receipt.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website