Financial Aid

Fletcher Scholarships

Fletcher Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit and need to both U.S. citizens/permanent residents and non-U.S. citizens. Scholarship recipients are notified at the time of admission. Scholarships are renewable in the second year for those students who maintain full-time status and remain in good academic standing. In the event that a student's tuition charges are reduced, the Fletcher Scholarship will be pro-rated accordingly.

Outside Scholarships

Admitted students are encouraged to apply for scholarships offered through government agencies, private foundations and other sources. The Internet and scholarship guidebooks can be helpful in searching for outside scholarship information.

Federal Loan Programs

U.S. citizens/permanent residents are eligible borrow through a variety of federal loan programs. Program and application information follows. Eligibility for all federal loan programs is determined by Tufts Student Financial Services.

In addition to reading the information below, please be sure to visit the Tufts Student Financial Services website for complete program details and procedures.

Federal Direct Stafford Loan

• Students may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year less the amount borrowed through the Subsidized Direct Loan Program
• Interest accrues from the time of disbursement
• Standard repayment is ten years
• 6.8% fixed interest rate for the life of the loan
• Students will be charged a 1% loan origination fee—this fee is subtracted from the amount borrowed
• Repayment begins six months after graduation, or when students withdraw or drop less than half-time status

GradPLUS Loan

• Students may borrow up to the cost of attendance less any other financial aid
• Students are required to apply for the maximum Federal Direct Loan first
• Borrowers must be credit worthy
• 7.9% fixed interest rate set by the federal government
• Interest accrues from the time of disbursement
• Lenders will charge up to a 4% origination fee – this fee will be subtracted from the amount borrowed
• Standard repayment is 10 years
• Repayment begins 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed, but may be deferred while the student is enrolled at least half time

Federal Work Study (FWS)

• Federally subsidized employment program
• Wages are paid through a combination of federal funds and the employer
• Students may work on-campus or off-campus in community service jobs developed by the Tufts Student Employment Office
• Students secure their own employment

Alternative Private Loans

Several private lenders offer educational loans for financing graduate school education. Most private lenders require a U.S. co-signer for international students. Detailed information on Alternative Private Loans can be found on the Tufts University Student Financial Services website.

Federal Financial Aid Process - Step by Step

Step One: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• FAFSA: In order to receive US Federal Aid (for US citizens or permanent residents), a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted electronically at the FAFSA website. FAFSA applications for the 2013-2014 academic year will become available after January 1, 2013 and should be submitted as early as possible. 

  You will need a PIN number to complete a FAFSA application online. You may apply for a PIN by logging in here. Tufts FAFSA department of education code is 002219.

• Within 5 to 7 business days a copy of your FAFSA report will be sent to the email address you provided in your FAFSA application.

  Check your Student Aid Report (SAR) for accuracy and make any necessary corrections on the FAFSA website. You should receive a corrected copy. Tufts will receive an updated copy as well if the Tufts code was entered on your form.

• Verification: If you are selected for Verification by the Federal government (this information can be found on your paper or electronic Student Aid Report that you receive after submitting your FAFSA), you will need to log into your FAFSA and use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. You can only do this if
  your taxes have been submitted to the IRS at least 2 weeks prior. If you cannot use the IRS DRT, you will need to request a 2012 IRS Tax Transcript from the IRS and have it sent to Tufts. You must also submit an Independent Student Verification form. Any aid awarded is tentative, and no loans can be disbursed, until the Verification process is completed.

Step Two: After Admission

• In late March you will receive an electronic Financial Aid Award Notification from Tufts Student Financial Services. This award notification will inform you about your federal loan and work study eligibility. If you have not completed and submitted a FAFSA or, if your FAFSA information is incomplete, Tufts Student Financial Services is unable to provide you with Federal Aid award information.
• Graduate Plus Loans and Alternative Loans: If you need to borrow in addition to the loans shown on your award letter, visit GradPlus' website for details about terms, rates, and application procedures for GradPLUS loans and alternative loans. Most students will find that the federal Graduate Plus loan is their best option. 

Step Three: Accepting your Loans

• Direct Loans: Even if you are a prior borrower of a Direct Loan, a new Master Promissory Note will be needed. You may go to the NSLDS site to review your loan history. 

  Students who have never borrowed a Direct Loan will need to sign a new Master Promissory Note. To complete this required process please follow these instructions.
  All entering graduate students, as well as first time borrowers at Tufts, must also complete an Entrance Loan Counseling interview online..

Step Four: After Enrollment

• All loans are disbursed directly to your student account in two installments, one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester.
• Refunds: If a credit appears on your account, you may apply for a refund online via Webcenter. If you are seeking a refund made payable to a third party, you must submit a signed Refund Request Form to the Student Services Desk in Dowling Hall. More specific refund instructions can be found here.

  Refunds will be processed only when an actual credit appears on your account. If the amount of your credit consists of an expected source of funding, such as an expected Direct Loan, your refund will not be processed until those funds are received or finalized. You may receive a partial refund of funds actually received. (Be sure to submit another refund request for the balance of your credit.)