Graduate students can apply for Federal Loans or private education loans to cover their costs related to graduate school. Please review the eligibility requirements on the Types of Aid section of our website.
Student loan eligibility is based on the number of credits that students indicate they plan to take on the Graduate Application. Changes to the number of credits or receipt of any additional financial assistance may impact loan eligibility. It is important that students notify the Office of Financial Aid of any changes in enrollment or any additional aid received so that we can adjust loan eligibility accordingly.
Graduate students who are US citizens, permanent residents or eligible non-citizens and who are registered in a degree-seeking program with at least half-time status (6 credits each semester during the academic year, or 3 credits for each summer session) may apply for Federal Direct loans. Though there are no specific deadlines to apply for financial aid as a graduate student, any loans utilized to cover your bill with the Bursar’s Office must be applied for and finalized before the bill due date.
Financial aid application materials and offers are specific to an academic year (summer, fall, winter, spring).
To apply for a Direct Unsubsidized and/or PLUS loan, graduate students must complete and submit the following information:
Upon completion of these forms, the Office of Financial Aid will determine your eligibility for Direct Loans, which can be viewed on the student portal. As long as the student is registered for the semester, Federal loan funds will be disbursed directly to the student’s Bursar account 10 days prior to the start of the semester or within 72 hours of receiving the application, whichever is later.
Graduate students can apply for private education loans. Students can utilize ELMSelect to review a list of private education loans recently used by Lehigh students, or select any lender who offers a private education loan.
To apply for a private education loan, graduate students must complete and submit the following information:
When the loan is approved and the application has been completed by the student and any co-borrower (if applicable), the lender will notify our office so that we can certify eligibility for the requested amount. Once the loan is certified by our office, it will be scheduled and can be viewed on your financial aid portal. These funds will be disbursed directly to the student’s Bursar account.
