Notes for GWU Financial Aid Info:
Cost of Attendance: "a reasonable budget," cannot award more than this reasonable estimate for costs associated with education, used to determine maximum aid eligibility (this is greater than just tuition and fees) Includes housing and cost of living.
Merit Aid: Your application is used to determine merit-based aid, varies between $7,500 to $30,000 per year, you will receive an award email with award requirements (Dec 15th deadline for this)
Need-Based Aid: CSS Profile with College Board determines need based aid, if you're under 26 parent info is included, varies from covering 25% of need to 50% of need, school code is 9608. Differs from FAFSA in that FAFSA considers you independent once you are a grad student, while CSS requires you to be 26 to be considered independent. "Small fee associated with this" -- can reach out to office to make sure this is useful for you. Doesn't help if you are doing an online program!
First Generation Grant: For first person in family to attend college, indicated on SOPHAS application, varies between $3,000 and $5,000
Tauber Scholarship: For family history of service in WWII, can send email to
[email protected] with Tauber Scholarship in subject line.
GA Opportunities: Various opportunities to work with professors as a GA/GRA and receive a salary, hard to do before you actually start, usually after 1st semester. Be proactive and take time to get to know professors and their projects to determine which projects would be of interest.
Coverdell Fellowship: For former Peace Crop volunteers, total funding package of $30,000 over 2 years, separate application that is sent yo you within 2 weeks of receiving your admissions notice, for more info email Assistant Dean Heather Renault at
[email protected]. Don't get Coverdell and merit-based.
Yellow Ribbon Program: Enhanced education benefits thru the VA (maximum contribution of $31,150) can visit Military and Veteran Services website for more info.
Federal Loans: FAFSA is required, school code is 001444. Unsubsidized loans ranging between $20,500 and $33,000, additional eligibility may be available for the summer term, interest rate of 6.08$. Can accept/decline on GWeb account. Need to complete MPN/entrance counseling. If starting in Fall, do 2020-2021 FAFSA, but for earlier, do 2019-2020. Graduate PLUS loans allows for up to the cost of attendance, soft credit check, 7.08% interest rate. Need to complete Supplemental Graduate Loan Questionnaire for PLUS, with separate MPN.
Private/Alternative Loans: You choose your lender, consider variable vs. fixed interest rates, better rate with cosigner, requirements for forbearance/deferment, discounts for good grades. Not discount for Federal Loan forgiveness.
You can schedule 30-minute appointments (phone or in person) on their financial aid website under "contact." Can direct Financial Aid questions to
[email protected] and Admissions Questions to
[email protected].
Q&A:
-Differences between Masters/PhD/DrPH program financial aid: Masters applicants automatically considered for merit based, then need-based if you send in CSS. Might be invited to apply to scholarships. Doctoral applicants have a different financial aid package. Masters should get their financial aid within 2 weeks (send an email if you don't get it in this time frame) while Doctoral applicants usually get them sooner. Whether or not you get a scholarship you should get an email.
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Merit Based vs Need Based: Fees that don't have to be paid back. "Good money." Exhaust this first before thinking about loans.
-CSS (when, age 26...?): The day you turn 26, that's when you're considered an independent student (don't want your parent info). If you fill-out the CSS when you are 25.5, you still have to include your parent info.
You can wait until you are admitted before completing it to. You can also reach out before doing so if they decide you don't need to spend the money on it if it won't benefit you.
-If you don't get merit your first year: Won't be reconsidered for merit for subsequent years, but you can apply to specific scholarships. You can get need based aid in subsequent years though (for instance, if you turn 26).
-Are international students eligible for need based/merit based aid: Yes, all students are eligible.
-How are merit awards determined? Take into account all statistics (undergrad/grad/professional/international GPA, GRE score). Inputted into a formula.
