Graduate Financial Aid News

Graduate Financial Aid news to help graduate students research and apply for the right graduate financial aid for them, as well as provide grad students with the latest news and tips relating to furthering their degree.

Understand Your Graduate Loan Options

 -  It's no secret that student loans are more difficult to obtain for graduate students in the past few years due to the credit crunch and slow economic recovery.

From Our Forums: Am I dependent or independent?

 -  Ah yes, the ever nagging question of dependency status on the FAFSA. We know it well. Recently one of our financial aid forum users, Ssully, posted this question in regards to that exact topic: I’m trying to determine whether I would be considered a dependent or independent student in applying for Stafford loans. One of the [...]

From Our Forums: GradPLUS or a Private Student Loan?

 -  On Tuesday, one of our financial aid forum users, Scarab790, asked this question: I am starting grad school next week and my cost of attendance is $74,347 with a grant of $10,000. With no personal funds to reduce the cost, I have the option of taking a federal grad stafford loan, grad plus loan or a [...]

Remember to Ask About Tuition Reimbursement

 -  If you're looking to attend graduate school, you will want to be sure to exhaust all avenues to help you cover the cost. While your credit is likely improved enough where you can take out an alternative student loan or Grad PLUS loan, you still have rent, car payments and other bills to consider. So if you already have a full-time job, be sure to contact your employer about tuition reimbursement.

Can You Defer Graduate Loans?

 -  If you recently earned a graduate degree and are having difficulty either finding a job, or making ends meet with an existing job, you may have the option to defer, or temporarily suspend, your graduate school loans.

Loan Options for Less-Than-Half-Time Grad Students

 -  Finding the time to get a graduate degree is not easy. Whether you are balancing a family, a full-time job, or both, some prospective grad students are forced to only take one or two classes per semester to accommodate their schedule. Securing financial aid can be very difficult as well.

A New Lender has Entered the Ring!

 -  Super Street Fighter jokes aside, we are pleased to announce that PNC Bank has been added to our comprehensive lender comparison tool on PrivateStudentLoans.com. As always, if you have questions, comments or concerns about any content on our websites, please leave a comment in our financial aid forum and we will work to resolve them asap! Compare [...]

Graduate PLUS vs. Private Loans

 -  Are you a graduate student looking for something beyond Stafford direct loans and scholarships for an advanced degree? Two of your options are the Graduate PLUS and Graduate Private loans. Both tend to be overlooked but can go a long way toward helping you pay for grad school tuition and expenses.

On the Fence about Graduate School?

 -  If you are currently against the prospect of heading back to school, here are a few things that may change your mind.

How long does it take to get a graduate degree?

 -  The most predominant hang-ups for young professionals concerning going to graduate school are time and money. How much will graduate school cost? And how long will it take? As you learned from earning a Bachelor’s, time and money go hand in hand. The longer it takes to get a graduate degree, the more it’s going to cost in tuition.