Are you a graduate student? This one’s for you!
There’s a common misconception surrounding graduate education that there are no aid programs available to help graduate students afford the cost of their education. There are, in fact several programs available to help graduate students do so, including scholarships, grants, loans and more!
At Stockton, we strive to make sure that all students are informed about the aid programs available to them. Continue reading below to learn more about financial aid opportunities available to graduate students as well as how to apply!
What are the Types of Aid Available to Graduate Students?
Graduate students may be eligible to receive aid from the following sources:
- Institutional & Private Scholarships
- Federal TEACH Grant
- New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF)
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
- Private/Alternative Loans
Federal Financial Aid Opportunities:
- Federal Direct Loan Program
This is the largest federal student loan program. Students may be eligible for an unsubsidized loan by completing the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. A student may be eligible if they are enrolled in a degree seeking program and at least 5 credits per semester at Stockton University. Eligible students borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education.
Students may borrow up to $20,500 each academic year of a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
Learn more about Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans for graduate students at studentaid.gov.
- Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program
Graduate students are eligible to borrow under the PLUS Loan program up to their cost of attendance minus other financial assistance. Students can apply by logging into studentaid.gov with their FSA ID and Password and completing the application. Applicants for these loans are required to complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. Learn more and apply at studentaid.gov.
Eligibility is based on credit. An endorser may be required for some loans to be approved. Learn more and apply at studentaid.gov.
- Teacher Education Assistance for College & Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
The TEACH Grant provides grants for students in the Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low-income families.
Each year applicants must complete a FAFSA at fafsa.gov & the TEACH Grant Counseling & a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve on studentaid.gov.
State & Institutional Financial Aid Opportunities:
- State of New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF)
The New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) provides financial assistance and support for a small graduate program. The objective of the graduate EOF program is to increase participation in graduate and professional study of NJ residents from backgrounds of historical poverty. Students who received EOF grants as undergrads are given priority consideration.
Interested students can find more information at nj.gov/highereducation. Contact the EOF Office at Stockton University at 609.652.4647 if you believe you may have eligibility.
- Scholarships for New Graduate Students
New, incoming graduate students are eligible to apply for scholarships for the fall and spring semesters. This is a one-semester award that will apply to your first semester. This scholarship will be in the amount of $2,500 and applied to your bill after you register for courses. Award letters will be sent via email, and mail. To apply, visit stockton.edu/grad.
- Graduate Assistantships
Degree-seeking graduate students can apply for assistantships to help cover some of the costs of their education. Assistantships are granted in the form of a tuition waiver and can vary from a one credit waiver to the maximum tuition charge per semester.
To apply, submit an Application Form and letter of interest to Grad Admissions in Campus Center 101 no later than Oct. 31 for spring semesters and March 31 for fall semesters. Application forms are available online or from the program chair. Please refer to individual program guidelines regarding specific requirements. These may vary for each program, including the requirement of additional forms or applications. Learn more about graduate assistantships at stockton.edu/grad.
Applying for Institutional Foundation & Private Scholarships & Private Loans:
- Applying for Institutional Foundation Scholarships
The Stockton University Foundation maintains a robust merit-based award program comprised of approximately 200 scholarships. These scholarships are made possible thanks to the generous donations of alumni, friends of the university, organizations and businesses. Application essay, volunteerism, campus involvement and employment — not just GPA — are heavily weighed during the selection process. Scholarship amounts vary from $100 to $2,500 per opportunity.
The scholarship application is open to second-semester students and beyond who have an established Stockton GPA. Applications typically open in late January/early February each year. Recipients are chosen annually by the Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee. Learn more at stockton.edu/foundation.
- Applying for Private Scholarships
In addition to institutional scholarships, there are thousands of external scholarships available to students. Utilize our Scholarship Resource Center at stockton.edu/finaid to search for scholarships!
- Applying for Private/Alternative Loans
Private student loans are non-federal government loans offered by private lending institutions as an additional source of funds for higher education. Students can apply for Private Loans to help fund their education. The Office of Financial Aid does not recommend any one lender.
View a list of lenders used by Stockton University students within the past 3 years at stockton.edu/finaid.
*Please note that these may not be the only available resources for graduate financial aid. We encourage you to search for additional opportunities. More information and opportunities are available at stockton.edu/finaid.
How to Apply:
Now that we’ve discussed some of the aid opportunities available to graduate students, let’s talk about how to apply!
To apply for federal and state financial aid programs, U.S. Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens will file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year at fafsa.gov.
New Jersey Dreamers will file the NJ Alternative Application at hesaa.org to apply for state financial aid programs.
*All students are able to apply for scholarships, assistantships and non-federal loans. Learn more within this brochure.
Have questions? We’re always here to help! Visit stockton.edu/conatctfinaid to email or schedule a phone appointment with a member of our staff.