Eligibility for Graduate Students
Your financial aid eligibility is based on your enrollment status, your classification as a student and the number of hours you are taking.
Enrolled Hours
For financial aid purposes:
- Five hours is considered half time
- Nine hours is considered full time
Calculating Your Hours
Only graduate level courses you take are included in the calculation of your financial aid eligibility. Undergraduate coursework is not included.
A student enrolled for five graduate hours and six undergraduate hours is considered a half-time graduate student because only the graduate hours are considered in the calculation of aid eligibility.
A student enrolled for three graduate hours and three undergraduate hours is considered less than half time because only graduate hours are counted in the calculation of aid eligibility. The student would not be eligible for Federal financial aid.
Visiting Graduate Students
A graduate student who is not admitted to a degree program is typically not eligible to receive financial aid, except in the case where undergraduate coursework is a necessary prerequisite to enter a graduate program. In such a case, the student may apply for a one-time Federal Direct Loan for one 12-month period at the undergraduate loan level.
To apply:
- The student must first obtain and complete a Visiting Graduate Student Appeal Form.
- The student’s Graduate Advisor must certify the appeal and return the form to the Financial Aid Office.
- Upon approval of the appeal, the student’s eligibility for a Federal Direct Loan is evaluated.
A student enrolled for six undergraduate hours and two graduate hours is considered a half-time undergraduate student, because only undergraduate hours are counted in the calculation of aid eligibility.
A student enrolled for four undergraduate hours and five graduate hours is considered less than half time because only undergraduate hours are counted in the calculation of aid eligibility. The student would not be eligible for Federal financial aid.