Financial Aid Options for Graduate Students
The most common sources of financial aid for graduate students are federal student loans, graduate assistantships, and scholarships.
- • To receive loans, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. GovState’s school code is 009145.
- ‣ You must be enrolled at least half-time (6 hours fall/spring, 3 hours summer) in eligible coursework to be eligible to borrow.
- ‣ Graduate students are eligible to borrow up to $20,500 annually, which is traditionally split over Fall and Spring.
- ‣ You can reduce the loan amount to what you need; you do not have to take out the full loan amount.
- ‣ For the loan to disburse:
- ․ You must accept the award within your GovState Financial Aid portal accessed through MyGSU.
- ․ You must complete Graduate Loan Entrance Counseling and a Graduate Master Promissory Note on the Federal Student Aid website.
- ‣ If you need money in excess of your unsubsidized loan, or for summer, you can apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan. This is still a federal student loan but carries a higher interest rate.
- • This is a credit-based loan, and you can fill out the application on the Federal Student Aid website.
- • If denied, you can either appeal the decision or use an endorser.
- • Once the StudentAid.gov application is complete, you must fill out the GovState Plus Loan Application Form on the Forms webpage.
- • Email the completed form to faid@govst.edu.
- • Graduate assistantships can cover 6-9 credit hours of tuition/fees and provide a monthly stipend.
Scholarships for Graduate Students
- • Scholarships are available at GSU through our Scholarship Universe platform, which provides access to institutional and external scholarships. The platform uses your MyGSU credentials and can be found at Scholarship Universe.
- ‣ You will receive emails to your student email when new scholarships are posted.
- ‣ The platform matches you to scholarships based on the questions that you answer. The more questions you answer = the more scholarship matches!
- ‣ Contact information:
Financial Counseling, Literacy Workshops
Financial literacy workshops and webinars cover topics such as managing student debt, budgeting, and credit management. Additionally, a student financial counseling service is available, allowing students to schedule appointments for personalized financial plans.
Graduate students can access financial aid counseling through dedicated advisors who specialize in financial planning, loan options, and scholarships tailored to their academic and career goals. International students can also receive guidance specific to their financial needs.
Financial Aid Coordinators