Graduate Student Financial Aid Options
Graduate students are eligible for financial aid if they are enrolled at least half-time each term (usually 6 credit hours per term). While graduate students are not eligible for Pell grants by federal regulation, they may be eligible for the federal TEACH Grant if they meet the program's requirements.
Because of the low cost per credit for graduate course work, institutional funds are not available. However, graduate students are eligibile for the federal Stafford loan program and, depending on their cost of attendance and other aid, possibly a Graduate PLUS loan in their name.
To be considered for the federal Stafford loan and other federal aid, graduate students must:
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to take advantage of Stafford loan options first, whether subsidized or unsubsidized.
- Advise the financial aid staff of your planned level of enrollment for each term. This may be done by letter or email.
- Complete the master promissory note and loan certification form (see Forms & Links) to confirm the loan amount(s) you wish to have disbursed. If you have previously borrowed from a Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP) lender, you should stay with that lender if at all possible for continuity of servicing.
Remember, the Stafford loan has better interest rates than most private loans. With the ability to borrow up to $20,500 maximum in Stafford as a graduate student (depending on your total cost of attendance budget in the CSA Office), your costs would be more than met utilizing federal Stafford loans. If you still have a shortfall, which you must borrow, you can explore the option of a Graduate PLUS loan in your name.
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