Graduate Student Loans

Matriculated Graduate Students—[Main] Campus-based/Residential

Students seeking funding for graduate study in the form of loans should consult the Syracuse University Financial Aid and Scholarship Program web site at financialaid.syr.edu/gradloans.htm for specific details on Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Graduate PLUS loans, and alternative/private loans. This is an excellent resource in accessing application procedures, eligibility criteria, loan and interest rate fees, time lines, and relevant deadlines.

It is recommended that students (U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens) apply first for Federal Stafford Loans. These are administered by SU’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs and are awarded to students based on information collected from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Applicants for graduate study should not wait for an admission decision before applying. Students are encouraged to file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 and no later than July 1 for aid to commence the following academic year. Please note: Students whose graduate program begins or is continuing in the summer must also complete the FAFSA for the current academic year by May 1. Please see financialaid.syr.edu/gradsummer.htm for further information.

The other available form of federal loan is the Federal Graduate PLUS loan. It is recommended that students borrow their maximum eligibility in Federal Stafford Loans before they apply for this loan program.

Alternative education loans are private loans offered through banks for the purpose of supplementing a student’s financial aid package. They are not federally endorsed or guaranteed, but they must be certified or approved through the Syracuse University Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs to ensure that the loan does not exceed the cost of attendance (budget) minus all other financial aid. Graduate students are eligible to borrow up to the full cost of attendance by using the Federal Stafford and Graduate PLUS loans, making alternative loans (with their higher fees and interest rates) unnecessary for most students.

Students applying for loans must also complete the Syracuse University Graduate Financial Aid Application. Further details may be found at financialaid.syr.edu/Howtoapply-grad.htm.

Students should note that for the purposes of need-based aid, federal regulations require the University to take into account all other sources of financial support for graduate study, including those from the University, i.e. fellowships, assistantships, or scholarships, and from private or government sources.

Matriculated Graduate Students Distance (ISDP) Master’s Degree and Certificate Financial Aid Sources for Non-Matriculated Graduate Students

University College’s Financial Aid Office administers financial aid to graduate students who are pursuing distance learning master’s degree and certificate programs, and to non-matriculated graduate students. Please refer to www.suce.syr.edu/students/prospective/finaid/gradaidsources/index.htm for complete information. Students in distance learning programs are eligible to file a FAFSA and should follow the procedures outlined above. Students whose graduate program begins or is continuing in the summer must also complete the FAFSA by May 1 for the current academic year. Students who are not matriculated or who are pursuing a certificate program are eligible for private/alternative loans only.

All students applying for loans must also complete a University College financial aid application.

Contact the University College Financial Aid Office at 315-443-3261 or finaid@uc.syr.edu with any questions or concerns.

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