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Financial Assistance

This section provides an overview of available resources for graduate students, such as information regarding financial aid, scholarships, fellowships and loans for prospective students.

 

Financial Aid

Financial Aid refers to funding intended to help students pay education expenses including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, etc. for education at a college, university, or private school (Wikipedia).

 

Federal Student Aid Programs
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) here and learn about federal aid for graduate students.
http://studentaid.ed.gov

About.com: Graduate School; Paying for Graduate School
An outside explanation of the FAFSA
http://gradschool.about.com/od/financialaid/Financial_Aid.htm


The Princeton Review: Paying for your education

Read one company's advice about financial aid.

http://www.princetonreview.com/FinancialAidAdvice.aspx


Grad School Tips; Paying for School

Learn how you can receive free money such as Scholarships and Financial Aid.

http://www.gradschooltips.com/payingforschool.htm


Scholarship, Financial Aid, and Student Loan Information

A great resource for searching scholarships, applying for financial aid and student loans.

http://edu.fastweb.com/v/degree-finder/articles/1966-scholarships_for_dummies


FinAid, The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid

Read more information regarding Scholarships, Loans, Grants, Fellowships, Financial Aid Application.

http://www.finaid.org/


idealist.org, Public Service Graduate education Resource Center; Financing your graduate education

These articles will help you get in touch with the financial aspects of graduate school. Topics include overall financial concerns, building good credit for grad school, employment options during school, and searching for scholarships. Go ahead - read on!

http://www.idealist.org/en/psgerc/financing.html




Loans

Loans are debt that you must pay back, usually with interest. Student loans are issued directly by the federal government (Stafford, GradPLUS, and Perkins loans), with limits.  Many banking institutions offer "private" loans, generally with higher limits, but also with higher rates.

Federal Employment and Loan Forgiveness 
The federal government now has a loan forgiveness program for student borrowers who have completed ten years of full-time employment in a public service career. To find out more about public service loan forgiveness and eligibility, visit: http://www.finaid.org/loans/publicservice.phtml 



Scholarships

A Scholarship is a financial aid award for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purpose of the founder of the award (Wikipedia).

 

Fastweb's List of Scholarships

A resource for searching scholarships, applying for financial aid and student loans.
http://edu.fastweb.com/v/degree-finder/articles/1966-scholarships_for_dummies



Fellowships

A Fellowship is a merit-based scholarship, or form of academic financial aid (Wikipedia).

Students.gov list of Graduate Fellowships
The federal government maintains a list (not exhaustive) of federal- and non-federal graduate fellowships.  Students in public affairs may be eligible for some of them.
www.students.gov

 

Extensive and Nationwide Listing of Policy-Related Fellowships
The following link is a database of external grants and fellowships directed at applicants who wishes to study in a policy program.

http://digital.lamp.columbia.edu/sipa/fellowships/



Gradschool.com Resource List of Grad School Fellowships

This website offers a comprehensive online resource of graduate school information. Check out all the different fellowships that are available for graduate students.

http://www.gradschools.com/Article/Graduate-Fellowships/1676.html


Minority-focused Listing of Fellowships

Read The Guide to Graduate and Professional School Fellowships.
http://www.imdiversity.com/Villages/Channels/grad_school/fellowships.asp