Types of Aid for Graduate Students

The Office of Financial Aid helps administer Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, and Alternative Student Loans for graduate students.

Federal Loans

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 be eligible for Federal Unsubsidized or PLUS loans. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the Graduate Student Application to be considered for Federal loans.  

Direct Unsubsidized Loans 

Graduate students may be eligible to borrow up to $20,500 in the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan each academic year (Summer through Spring semesters).  The loan amount cannot exceed the student’s cost of attendance which includes direct costs, such as tuition and fees, and indirect costs such as the room and meal allowance. NOTE: If a student earns 18 or more credits prior to the start of the Spring semester of that academic year, they may be eligible to receive an additional $20,500 (not to exceed total cost of attendance) in the Spring semester. 

Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate or Professional Students

Graduate students who do not have an adverse credit history (unless they meet certain eligibility requirements) can borrow a PLUS Loan in an amount that is up to their cost of attendance minus other financial assistance (i.e. loans, financial assistance awarded by the department of study, or any funds that a student otherwise would not receive if they were not enrolled) received. Students must have exhausted their maximum annual loan eligibility under the Federal Direct Loan Program before applying for a Direct PLUS Loan.

Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more about these loan options, such as repayment options, interest rates and terms and conditions of the loans.  

Private Education Loans

A private education loan is a type of loan that is made by private organizations such as banks, credit unions, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations, and has terms and conditions that are set by the lender. Students who do not meet Federal Loan eligibility requirements (i.e. non-citizens, or students enrolled in a non-degree program) may be eligible to borrow a private education loan.  Private loans are typically based on the student’s credit score, and may require a co-borrower. Because the terms are set by the lender, students will need to carefully review all the terms of each individual loan option, as they can vary greatly. To assist with this process, a list of private loans recently used by Lehigh students can be found on our ELMSelect site. Once a loan is approved, the lender will notify our office so that we can certify that the student is eligible for the requested amount. Students who plan to utilize this option to cover their balance should apply for the loan two weeks prior to the date the bill is due. 

A student can borrow a private education loan up to the cost of attendance minus other financial assistance awarded by their department of study. 

Academic Awards

Teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), graduate assistantships (GAs), fellowships and scholarships are academic awards made by the University, by individual academic departments, and by the Dean’s Office. Several graduate assistantships unrelated to a particular area of study can be obtained by applying to administrative offices. 

Continuing students who request fellowships, scholarships, RAs, TAs and GAs beginning in the fall semester must file a request with their academic department no later than February 1st. Generally, a special committee formed by departmental faculty makes recommendations for the recipients of these awards based on merit. Students are not required to submit a financial statement. In addition to their stipends, graduate students holding half-time TA appointments generally receive tuition remission. Research assistants receive a stipend for research services and their tuition is commonly paid directly by research projects. Joint appointments as teaching assistant, research assistant and graduate project assistant are permissible, subject to appropriate approvals.

For more information on these opportunities, please visit Funding Your Graduate Education.

Private Scholarships

There are many private (external) scholarships you may apply for that may or may not be need-based, which are determined on various factors, such as academics, career goals, etc. To look for a scholarship that matches your interests and qualifications, you can access free scholarship information online at www.collegeboard.org, www.college.net, www.fastweb.com, or www.gocollege.com. The Office of Financial Aid maintains a list of current external scholarships. 

In most instances, there is no charge to apply for scholarships and no guarantee that you will receive a scholarship. In fact, we strongly recommend you avoid scholarships that require payment to apply. Be sure to carefully research the organization and be wary of scholarship scams. Each private scholarship has its own criteria and application process.