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Financial Aid for Graduate Students

The Office of Financial Aid located on the main campus administers financial aid for both undergraduate and graduate students.ÌýÌý

If you have any questions about the financial aid options listed below, you canÌýreach your financial aid counselorÌýby phone, email, or by scheduling an appointment online.ÌýÌýProfessional students enrolled in the Washington College of Law should contact theÌýWCL Office of Financial Aid.

Graduate level merit-based scholarships are offered by your graduate program and/or graduate admissions office. Once offerÌýrecipients have been finalized, your graduate program will forward that list on to the Office of Financial Aid so that it can be included in your online student portal offerÌýletter.ÌýÌýIf you have any questions about these awards, you will need to contact that school or office directly.Ìý

The following resources provide additional information on funding opportunities for graduate students:

If you are admitted to a Master’s or PhD program, and you meet theÌýÌýfor Federal Title IV aid, then you may be eligible for one or more of the following types of federal financial aid assistance.Ìý

Both the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan require that you complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling prior to receiving these funds.ÌýThese documents can be completed online atÌý.

You will need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online atÌý. Enter our school code 001434 so that the results are forwarded on to the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Office of Financial Aid for review. When you submit your aid application, make sure you are submitting this for the correct year. For example, you would submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA to apply for the summer 2025, fall 2025, and spring 2026 terms.Ìý

Note: The 2025-2026 FAFSA is delayed and will be available online on December 1, 2024.ÌýÌýÌý

The Office of Financial Aid will review FAFSAs on an on-going basis for graduate students. Once you submit your FAFSA, please allow 3-5 business days for our office to receive this and then an additional 7-10 business days for our office to review your application. You will be notified if any additional information is needed.

You should submit your application at least one month prior to the start of the term to ensure your funding will be available when classes start. Do not wait to apply for aid! Once a term ends or once you drop below a half time enrollment status, you may no longer be eligible to receive aid for that term.

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is a summary of the average anticipated educational expenses that a student incurs while enrolled at º£½Ç»»ÆÞ.ÌýÌýThe COA will vary based on academic level, credits enrolled, program, and/or location.ÌýÌýYou canÌýfind theÌýCOA for your programÌýon our website.ÌýThe COA is updated annually in late spring each year.Ìý


Awarding Timeline

New students applying for admission will receive their offer letter once your graduate program has finalized their admissions decisions. Dates vary for the different academic programs, but all students who are admitted and have a completed aid application should receive their offer letter by mid-April. Go ahead and submit your application at the same time you apply for admission so that you can receive your offerÌýletter as quickly as possible. The offer letter will initially only include the federal aid for which you are eligible. A revised offerÌýletter will be sent to you at a later date if you are offered a merit scholarship by your department.

New students applying for admission will receive their offerÌýletter once they are both admitted and have a completed aid application. The first offer letters are sent out in December and then continue on a weekly basis as students are both admitted and have a completed aid application. Go ahead and submit your application at the same time you apply for admission so that you can receive your offerÌýletter as quickly as possible. The offer letter will initially only include the federal aid for which you are eligible. A revised offer letter will be sent to you at a later date if you are offered a merit scholarship by your department.

Offer letters are released in April for students enrolled at least half time for the summer who are also on track to meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for renewal.ÌýOffer letters are releases in May for all other students once the spring grades have been recorded and reviewed.

Offer letters are released in June for students enrolled at least half time for the July T3 term who are also on track to meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for renewal. OfferÌýletters are released in August for all other students enrolled at least half time for the October T4 term once the April T2 term grades have been recorded and reviewed.Ìý

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