Enrollment and Eligibility
Student Categories: Financial Aid Eligibility – Graduate Students
Financial aid eligibility may vary for students in special circumstances, including graduate students taking undergraduate courses, summer students, online students, international students, and special/visiting students.
Graduate Students Taking Undergraduate Courses
Graduate students enrolled in undergraduate coursework will be awarded financial aid only for graduate-level credits. To qualify for federal aid programs, graduate students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours of graduate coursework.
Students Enrolled in Multiple Programs
Graduate students who are enrolled in two degree programs simultaneously will have financial aid applied only to the primary program listed on file in the University’s system. This includes all federal aid, Grad PLUS loans, and institutional awards, as well as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculations. Aid cannot be divided or applied to a secondary program.
Summer Students
Limited financial aid is available for summer school, which is considered the last semester of the award year. Students must have a current FAFSA on file. Aid is awarded only for degree-credit coursework, and repeated courses or non-degree credit courses are not eligible.
Federal loans are automatically split evenly between the fall and spring semesters. Summer is considered a trailer semester, which means that if a student has exhausted loan eligibility, additional aid cannot be awarded for summer. Students planning to take summer courses should plan accordingly, assuming they have not yet reached their aggregate loan limit.
Undergraduate Students Beginning Graduate Programs in Summer
FAFSA results filed as an undergraduate cannot be used for graduate-level aid. Students must submit a FAFSA reflecting graduate-level enrollment before the start of summer courses to determine eligibility for federal and institutional aid. Students are encouraged to consult the Financial Aid Office regarding requirements and applications prior to acceptance into a graduate program.
Online Students
Students taking online courses may receive financial aid if otherwise eligible. The cost of education used to determine aid eligibility includes tuition, fees, and books. Housing expenses are not included in aid calculations, even if students reside on campus.
International Students
First-year international students are not eligible for financial aid. International students must demonstrate sufficient personal or private resources to maintain valid immigration status. Limited aid may be available based on individual need and fund availability, and awards are determined collaboratively by the Financial Aid Office and International Department. Assistance is provided in cases of unexpected reductions or cancellations of planned support. Students receiving ongoing family, private, or departmental support may not qualify for financial aid.
Special/Visiting Students
Special students and visiting students (attending one or two semesters from other institutions) are not eligible for financial aid. In some cases, aid may be transferred from a student’s home institution through a Consortium Agreement. Visiting students must apply for aid at their home institution and coordinate with the home school’s Financial Aid Office prior to enrollment at Gallaudet.