Financial aid for graduate students is dependent upon the program in which a student enrolls. A completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be used to determine your eligibility for Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS Loans. Students may also be eligible for scholarships, grants and/or loan programs specific to the school in which they study. Please visit the link associated with your school to see additional information.
Minimum Hours for Eligibility
A student must be enrolled for a minimum amount of hours to be eligible for federal and institutional aid. The chart below lists the amount of hours per term needed to be eligible.
| School | Fall | Jan | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divinity (Masters) | 4.5 | 1 | 4.5 | 2 |
| Divinity (D.Min.) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Education, Business and Environmental Management | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Law | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2.5 |
| Graduate Nursing and Nurse Anesthesia | 3 | NA | 3 | 3 |
| Pharmacy | 5 | NA | 5 | 2.5 |
| School of Health Professions | 3 | NA | 3 | 3 |
| School of Public Health | 3 | NA | 3 | 3 |
Business
Brock School of Business offers some merit/need based assistance to students who apply. Please check with the Brock School of Business Office of Graduate Programs for details concerning scholarships and grants and the Brock School of Business website.
Business students also have the ability to utilize Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. As a Business student, a FAFSA is required to receive either of these loans. A $20,500 annual, maximum limit is enforced for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Grad PLUS Loans are limited only by other aid already received, credit decisions and the total annual financial aid maximum.
For additional information, please contact the financial aid advisor for business students or contact Brock School of Business.
Divinity
Beeson Divinity School offers significant merit/need-based assistance to students who apply. Please check the Beeson Divinity School website and the Beeson Divinity Office of Admission for details concerning scholarships and grants.
Divinity students also have the ability to utilize Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. As a divinity student, a FAFSA is required to receive either of these loans. A $20,500 annual, maximum limit is enforced for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Grad PLUS Loans are limited only by other aid already received, credit decisions and the total annual financial aid maximum.
For additional information, please contact the financial aid advisor for divinity students or contact Beeson Divinity School.
Education
Orlean Beeson School of Education offers some merit/need-based assistance to students who apply. Please check with the Orlean Beeson School of Education Office of Graduate Programs for details concerning scholarships and grants.
Education students also have the ability to utilize Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. As an education student, a FAFSA is required to receive either of these loans. A $20,500 annual maximum limit is enforced for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Grad PLUS Loans are limited only by other aid already received, credit decisions and the total annual financial aid maximum.
The education school also offers programs that are not degree-seeking, but instead lead to a certificate awarded by the state of Alabama. Students enrolled in specific certificate-only programs are eligible for federal aid, but at a reduced rate. Please contact the financial advisor for graduate education students to see if your certificate qualifies for aid and the amount of federal or institutional assistance you may be eligible to receive.
Health Professions
School of Health Professions may offer merit/need-based assistance to students who apply. Please check with the department chair of your program for details concerning possible scholarships and grant opportunities.
Students enrolled in degree programs in the School of Health Professions also have the ability to utilize Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct Grad PLUS Loans. A FAFSA is required each year to receive either of these loans. A $20,500 annual maximum limit is allowed for Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Grad PLUS Loans are limited only by other aid already received, credit decisions, and the total annual financial aid maximum.
The School of Health Professions also offers certificate-only programs, which are not eligible for federal aid. However, educational expenses related to these certificates may be covered by private loans or institutional scholarships. Please contact the One Stop Office for additional information.
Law
Cumberland School Law offers significant merit/need-based assistance to students who qualify. Please check the law school website and and the Cumberland Office of Admission for details concerning scholarships and grants.
Cumberland School of Law students also have the ability to utilize Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. As a law student, a FAFSA is required to receive either of these loans. A $20,500 annual maximum limit is enforced for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Grad PLUS Loans are limited only by other aid already received, credit decisions and the total annual financial aid maximum.
Cumberland School of Law students with questions about Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS Loans should contact their designated One Stop Advisor or contact the law school for details concerning scholarships.
Nursing
Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing offers merit/need-based assistance to students who apply. Please check with the nursing school for details concerning scholarships and grants awarded within your program.
Nursing students also have the ability to utilize Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. As a Nursing student, a FAFSA is required to receive either of these loans. A $20,500 annual, maximum limit is enforced for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Grad PLUS Loans are limited only by other aid already received, credit decisions and the total annual financial aid maximum.
The nursing school also offers certificate only programs, which are not eligible for federal aid. However, educational expenses related to these certificates may be covered by private loans or institutional scholarships. Please contact the financial advisor for nursing students for additional information.
Other options are also available, such as the Nurse Faculty Loan Program and the Nurse Traineeship Grant Program. For additional information concerning these opportunities, please contact graduate admission in Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing.
Pharmacy
McWhorter School of Pharmacy offers some merit-based assistance to students who apply. Please check with the McWhorter School of Pharmacy admissions office for details concerning scholarships and grants.
Most pharmacy students access funding through Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Grad PLUS Loans and Federal Health Professions Loans. A FAFSA is required to receive any of these three loans. A $33,000 annual, maximum limit is allowed for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for pharmacy students. However, an additional $4,167 in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans will be offered during the summer term to pharmacy students taking required summer courses after completing their third year of pharmacy coursework. Grad PLUS Loans are limited only by other aid already received, credit decisions and the total annual financial aid maximum. Health Professions Loans are available on a limited basis. For information concerning the HPL or any other aid options, please contact the financial advisor for pharmacy students.
Public Health
School of Public Health may offer merit/need-based assistance to students who apply. Please check with the department chair of your program for details concerning possible scholarships and grant opportunities.
Students enrolled in degree programs in the School of Public Health also have the ability to utilize Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct Grad PLUS Loans. A FAFSA is required each year to receive either of these loans. A $20,500 annual maximum limit is allowed for Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Grad PLUS Loans are limited only by other aid already received, credit decisions, and the total annual financial aid maximum.
The School of Public Health also offers certificate-only programs, which are not eligible for federal aid. However, educational expenses related to these certificates may be covered by private loans or institutional scholarships. Please contact the One Stop Office for additional information.
