Information for Graduate Students

 

The Financial Aid Office at PennWest Edinboro is dedicated to making advanced degrees affordable and attainable for graduate students.

Graduate students can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and may be eligible for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. Typically, graduate students are eligible for $20,500 of unsubsidized loans for the academic year. The combined aggregate loan limit that a graduate student may borrow is $138,500. You can view your aggregate loan limits and loan servicer information at studentaid.gov.

Full-time - 9 or more credits/term
¾ time - 7 or 8 credits/term
½ time - 5 or 6 graduate credits/term
(must have at least 5 graduate-level credit hours)

Aid eligibility, award amounts and cost of attendance (budgets) will be adjusted to reflect a change in enrollment status each semester. Students must notify the office if not enrolled full-time or if enrollment changes from semester to semester.

If you are taking all undergraduate courses or enrolled in a post baccalaureate program (i.e., teacher certification) aid will be awarded based on undergraduate rules. Aid for teacher certification, innovative nursing, second bachelor's degree and/or post baccalaureate certification programs:

  • Must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) to be eligible for federal student loans
  • Students enrolled are considered fifth-year undergraduate and subject to undergraduate lifetime loan limits.
  • Students are not eligible for state and federal grants since they already have a bachelor's degree.
  1. Go to studentaid.gov.
  2. Log in with the student's FSA ID username and password.
  3. Click 'Complete Counseling' and under type 'I am completing entrance counseling to receive Direct Loans as a graduate or professional.'
  4. Click 'Complete MPN' and under type 'Subsidized/Unsubsidized MPN'. Each year borrowers will need to complete a new MPN along with the Informed Borrowing Confirmation before the University can pay the student's Federal Direct loans.
  1. Go to studentaid.gov.
  2. Log in with the student's FSA ID username and password.
  3. Click 'Apply for a PLUS loan' - 'Direct PLUS Loan Request for Graduate/Professional Student Borrowers.'
  4. Complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note along with Informed Borrowing Confirmation for Graduate/Professional Students. Each year borrowers will need to complete a new MPN along with the Informed Borrowing Confirmation before the University can pay the student's Federal Direct loans, including Federal Direct PLUS loans.
    1. If you were denied the loan but approved with an endorser, you must click also 'Complete PLUS Counseling' and have the Endorser complete the 'Endorser Addendum.'

 

  • Generally, PennWest Edinboro disburses financial aid based on a two-semester basis, which is Fall and Spring. This means that your total financial aid award is divided between these two sessions. Some graduate programs require students to attend the Summer and Winter sessions. For these students, Winter Session can be rolled into the Spring semester and can be paid with spring aid. It will be necessary for student attending summer to budget their award by reducing the amount of their refunds for fall and spring to cover the cost of summer session.
  • Awards can be adjusted by submitting the request in writing, via S.C.O.T.S. email or contacting the Financial Aid Office for assistance.

For example:

Fall

Spring

Summer

Award: $10,250
Bill: $3,000
Desired refund: $2,000
Reduce award to: $5,000
Unused aid: $5,250

Award: $10,250
Bill: $4,000
Desired refund: $2,000
Reduce award to: $6,000
Unused aid: $4,250

Available for summer: $9,500

 

  • For Federal Student Aid recipients: Graduates are required to complete 75% of all credit hours attempted with a 3.00 QPA or better. The complete SAP standards may be reviewed online by visiting the satisfactory academic progress page.
  • If any of your previous loans are in default, PennWest Edinboro is not allowed to process any financial aid for you. To resolve defaulted loan issues, go to studentaid.gov to review your loans and servicer contact information, then contact your loan servicer. Once your defaulted loans are resolved, you must contact our office so we can process your financial aid.
  • Alternative loans are student loans borrowed through a bank or credit union. The University recommends using the Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Direct Graduate PLUS loans and payment plan with the Student Accounts office before choosing to take out an Alternative Loan. Please view our Alternative Loans page for more information.

Contact Us

Financial Aid Office
Hamilton Hall
210 Glasgow Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
Email: finaid-edn@pennwest.edu
Phone: 814-732-3500
Fax: 814-732-2129

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.