Graduate Students
The Financial Aid Office at St. Lawrence University will assist graduate and professional students in understanding various sources of financial aid to which they may be entitled. Financial aid for graduate students is offered on an annual basis. Students must re-apply for aid each year. Students must be matriculated and enrolled at least half time to be considered for federal aid and most alternative loan programs.
The Financial Aid Office is located in Payson Hall. You may call (315) 229-5265 or (800) 355-0863, or e-mail finaid@stlawu.edu for more information.
Types of Financial Assistance
Loss of Subsidized Loan Eligibility for Graduate Students - Please Note
Effective for loans made for period of enrollment (loan periods) beginning on or after July 1, 2012, graduate students are no longer eligible to receive Federal Direct Subsidized Loans. The terms and conditions of Direct Subsidized Loans received by any student for loan periods beginning before July 1, 2012, for either graduate or undergraduate study, are not affected by this change.
The annual loan limit for graduate students remains unchanged at $20,500.
The Federal Stafford Loan:
The Federal Stafford Loan is offered through the William D. Ford Direct Lending Program beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year.
An unsubsidized loan can be awarded regardless of financial need. You will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If you allow that interest to accumulate, it will be added to the principal amount of your loan. Graduate unsubsidized Stafford Loan information may be found here.
Matriculated graduate students may borrow up to a maximum of $20,500. Repayment begins six months after your graduate or fall below half-time status with several payment options. As a first-time borrower, you need to go to www.studentloans.gov to complete the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note and entrance counseling. You will need your FSA ID to complete these tasks.
Graduate Student PLUS Loan:
Graduate and professional students will be eligible to borrow funds through the Federal PLUS Loan program. The Grad PLUS Loan will help bridge the gap between the financial aid awarded a student and their calculated cost of attendance. Grad PLUS loan interest rate and fee information may be found here. To be eligible for the Grad PLUS Loan, students must first apply for and be offered Federal Stafford Loans.
You are required to complete a separate Master Promissory Note (MPN) for your Grad PLUS loan which is good for 10 years.
There is no set annual borrowing limit on the Grad PLUS loan. Graduate Students may borrow up to the cost of their education minus all other accepted financial assistance.
Alternative Educational Loans
There are many alternative financing options available, including private lending organizations. If you are interested in learning more about alternative loan programs, please contact the Financial Aid Office or see below for our contact information of frequently used products:
For more information on Alternative Student Loan options, please visit the St. Lawrence University student loan website.
Assistantships
Graduate assistantships may be available through the St. Lawrence University’s Education Department. Completed applications are due by April 1 of the year prior to attendance in which the assistantship is sought. Contact the Education Office at (315) 229-5868 for more information.