First, why not check the Finale web site?

https://store.makemusic.com/Store/default.aspx?tab=notation&_ga=2.17177338.275012439.1510628305-938137776.1507564011 

You should also check them out on Facebook, where I saw an announcement of special reduced prices last night.

http:try.makemusic.com/black-friday-finale/reference 

I am wondering the same thing. How is "College Student Edition Direct" at $99 different from the "Academic/Theological" version at $350 (or the Black Friday deal of $149)? Does it only work in college? Is it a yearly payment?

You refer to a “College Student Edition Direct" for $99 but don’t provide a link. Neither does it show up in a Google search. 

it is offered by your student bookstore or other campus website, then the answer I gave in the other thread is probably correct. Offers made by an institution are not made to the general public. Likewise, the institution controls access to its site license. 

The offers to the the general public are the ones made at the above link. They are good for a limited time only.

Upgrade to version 25 from any previous version now $79
Trade up from Finale PrintMusic or SongWriter now $99
Buy Finale now $149

The original statement above, regarding a College Version, comes directly from the pricing page.

https://www.finalemusic.com/finale-and-printmusic-academictheological-pricing/