Graduate Student Financial Aid

Find Financial Aid resources to pay for the cost of graduate school, learn how to apply for scholarships, tuition assistance and loans. Graduate Financial Aid utilizes Unsubsidized loans, PLUS loans, Graduate Tuition Assistance and scholarships.
 
 

Types of Graduate Financial Aid

 

UAF Scholarships

You may also be eligible for UAF scholarships. You can apply for over 450 scholarships with our UAF scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for most UAF scholarships is February 15 for the following academic year. Some scholarships may be available after this date. 

Also visit the UAF Graduate School Scholarship page for more funding opportunities.

 

Graduate tuition assistance

Some Students may be eligible to receive Graduate Tuition Assistance or Research Assistance, for more information check with your department.

 

Federal Financial Aid

To receive federal financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students admitted to graduate school are considered independent and do not have to provide their parents’ information on the application.

Follow the steps for applying for financial aid on our Applying for financial aid page.

Federal financial aid options for graduate students are limited to student loans.

 

Graduate Loan Options

If you’re looking for additional ways to pay for college or supplement other types of financial aid, explore student loan options. While college loans must be repaid, they generally have long-term repayment schedules, offer low interest rates and often have provisions for deferring payments. To be eligible for loans you must be registered for a minimum of five graduate (600 level) credits.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

The unsubsidized loan is available for all eligible undergraduate and graduate students. Eligibility for this loan is determined by the FAFSA. The interest on this loan accrues on the account from the date of disbursement. Payments on the interest and principal are not required during periods of half-time enrollment and during your six-month grace period.

Federal PLUS Loan

The PLUS loan is a credit-based loan available to graduate students or parents of dependent students. The eligibility for this loan is determined by the FAFSA and by the amount of financial aid received. The maximum PLUS loan amount you can receive is the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received.

Federal Loan Limits

There are yearly and aggregate or lifetime loan limits for federal loans. Graduate students are able to borrow up to $20,500 Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan per year, $10,250 a semester, or up to the cost of attendance for the year. The maximum PLUS loan amount you can receive per year is the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received, there is not a lifetime limit for the PLUS loan.

The aggregate loan limit for graduate students is $138,500—No more than $65,500 of this amount can be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study. Learn more information about loan limits.

Alternative Loans

Alternative loans are credit-based loans available through the state agency or private banks. We encourage you to accept federal student loans before applying for alternative loans. Be sure to review the terms and conditions for all loans before accepting. Examples of alternative loans include Alaska student loans, Sallie Mae student loans and Wells Fargo loans.

Search for alternative loans that best meet your needs.