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Financial Aid Options for Â鶹ԭ´´ Graduate Students

Students admitted to a graduate program at Â鶹ԭ´´ State who are enrolled at least half-time may apply for the following Federal Student Aid programs. To apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at .

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans – Eligible graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year. Beginning July 1, 2026, federal law limits graduate student borrowing to an aggregate total of $100,000 for graduate study, not including amounts borrowed as an undergraduate student. In addition, there is a new lifetime federal loan limit of $257,500 for all borrowed across all levels of study (excluding Graduate or Parent PLUS loans). Graduate loans are unsubsidized, meaning interest will accrue on the loan while the borrower is in school, although no payment is required during periods of at least half-time enrollment. Annual loan amounts may be reduced for students enrolled less than full-time.

Federal PLUS Loans for Graduate Students – Beginning July 1, 2026, the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan program will be eliminated for new borrowers. Students who were enrolled in the same program of study at Â鶹ԭ´´ State as of June 30, 2026, received a Direct Loan for that program before July 1, 2026, and remain continuously enrolled in the same program may continue to borrow Graduate PLUS Loans for up to three academic years or the remainder of their expected time to credential, whichever is less. Students who qualify under this limited exception may borrow up to the total Cost of Attendance (COA) minus unsubsidized loans or other aid received, subject to federal eligibility requirements and credit approval. Students who qualify for this limited exception are also exempt from the new Direct Unsubsidized aggregate and lifetime loan limits described above.

Federal Work-Study – The Student Employment Program provides opportunities for eligible students to work part-time in positions across campus and in the community. Students who complete the FAFSA and demonstrate need may be awarded Federal Work Study, but this is not a requirement to be hired. Students may apply for open student positions by logging in to or HR postings at this . Student employees may not exceed 19.5 hours of work per week and are paid twice per month.

Additionally, students who demonstrate a high level of need according to the FAFSA will be considered for a limited pool of NS Access Grant awards on a first-come, first-served basis. The maximum award amount will be $1,500 per term for full-time students demonstrating the highest level of need. Part-time students and those with a Student Aid Index (SAI) up to 12,000 also will be eligible for reduced award amounts.