Loans for Graduate Students
To learn more about each type of loan, including the application process, click on the name of the loan. Please also see our page about Graduate Student Loan Changes Beginning 2013-14.
Average cumulative loan debt is reported below.
| Program | Description | Eligibility | Maximum amounts and interest rates for loans disbursed after July 1, 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan | Lender is the federal government. Interest accrues from the date of disbursement of the loan. | Offered to graduate students to cover the difference between cost of attendance (tuition, fees, and living expenses) and the amount of other awards. | $20,500 (higher for students in some Health Professions programs) Interest rate is 6.8%, calculated from the date of disbursement and capitalized once at the start of repayment. |
| Lender is the federal government. Interest accrues from the date of disbursement of the loan. | Offered to graduate students for need not covered by Federal Direct Loan or other awards. You must pass a credit check to receive a Grad PLUS Loan. You may choose a private loan as an alternative. | Up to cost of attendance less other awards. Interest rate is 7.9%. Read about Federal Direct Loan changes beginning in the 2013-14 academic year. |
|
| Federal loan administered by the University. No interest accrues until the student enters repayment. | Offered to graduate students with exceptional need, as funding permits. | $4,000 Interest rate is 5% during repayment. |
|
| Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) | Low-interest federal loan administerd by the University. No interest accrues until the student enters repayment. | Offered only to Optometry students. Students must document exceptional need by submitting their parents' information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). | $4,000 to $6,000, based on funding available. Interest rate is 5%. |
| Private Loans | Loans from private lenders. Students apply directly to the lender. Lenders typically contact the University to certify the student's status and amount of need. | Available to graduate students. Can be used to cover the difference between cost of attendance (tuition, fees, and living expenses) and the amount of other awards. | Varies by lender. |
| Other Loans | Description | Eligibility | Maximum amounts 2013-14 |
| Emergency Loan: Living Expense Loan | Short-term loan offered by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. | Available to registered students without blocks or a prior unpaid emergency loan. | $775 Interest-free. |
| Emergency Loan: CoPayable Loan for Fees | Short-term loan offered by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. | Available to unregistered students without blocks or a prior unpaid emergency loan. | $1,300 Interest-free. |
In 2010-11, the average cumulative loan debt for graduate degree recipients was:
Doctorate
Arts and Humanities: $33,335
Engineering and Computer Science: $36,830
Health Sciences: $37,951
Interdisciplinary: $31,420
Life Sciences: $24,691
Physical Sciences: $22,916
Professional Fields: $37,266
Social Sciences: $37,725
Professional Degrees
Engineering: $13,625
Environmental Design/Landscape Architecture: $46,324
JD Law: $104,183
Masters Information Management: $37,346
MBA Business: $59,893
MPP Public Policy: $37,325
MSW Social Welfare: $34,367
OD Optometry: $109,936
Public Health (MPH/DPH/DrEnv): $34,371
Statistics: $29,000