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Need-based Aid

Grants & Loans

By submitting your completed FAFSA and enrolling in at least 6 credits, you may be eligible for the following grants or loans.

Federal Pell Grant

  • Federal grant administered by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Eligibility determined by demonstrated financial need
  • Available to undergraduate students
  • For 2023-2024, awards range from $392 to $7,395 depending on eligibility

Federal Teach Grant

  • Federal grant administered by the university
  • Provides up to $4,000 per year
  • Available to eligible graduate students who agree to serve as a full-time, highly-qualified teacher in a high-need subject area in a designated low-income school for at least 4 years within 8 years of graduating
  • Applicants must meet certain academic achievement requirements (i.e. maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25)
  • May need to be repaid if student does not fulfill teacher service agreement

For additional information contact Traci Almeida, Coordinator of Graduate Admissions and Licensure: talmeida@umassd.edu or 508.999.8098

Massachusetts Grant (MassGrant) Program

  • State-funded grant program administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Eligibility determined by demonstrated financial need
  • Available to undergraduate students enrolled full-time (12+ credits) who are a legal resident of Massachusetts
  • FAFSA must be filed by July 1, 2023 for the 23/24 academic year 

Mass Part-time Grant

  • State funded grant program administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Eligibility determined by demonstrated financial need and available funds
  • Available to undergraduate students enrolled in 6-11 credits who are a legal resident of Massachusetts

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan

Borrowers must:

  • Be an undergraduate
  • Demonstrate financial need based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI)
  • Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree or an eligible certificate program
  • If a first-time borrower: submit Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans online
  • Complete Federal Direct Loan Exit Counseling online after graduating, withdrawing, or dropping beneath half-time enrollment

Loan amounts are based on earned academic credits:

  • 6-29 credits: $3,500
  • 30-59 credits: $4,500
  • 60 or more credits: $5,500

More information

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Borrowers must:

  • Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree or an eligible certificate program
  • If a first-time borrower: submit Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans online
  • Complete Federal Direct Loan Exit Counseling online after graduating, withdrawing or dropping beneath half-time enrollment

Loan Amounts are based on earned academic credits and dependency status.

Dependent students: $2,000

Independent students:

  • 6-29 credits: $6,000
  • 30-59 credits: $6,000
  • 60 or more credits: $7,000

Parent borrowers denied a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan may help their dependent student qualify for an additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan of $4,000 for lower-level students and $5,000 for upper-level students.

More information

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

Dependent students must:

  • Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree or an eligible certificate program

Parent borrowers must:

  • Be either the student's biological or adoptive parent
  • Complete a Direct PLUS Loan Application for Parents
  • If a first-time borrower: submit a PLUS Master Promissory Note for Parents online

Parents may borrow up to their students' cost of attendance per award year.

Interest accrues immediately after the first disbursement. Repayment begins 45-60 days after the second disbursement. Deferred repayment options are available.

More information

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

Borrowers must:

  • Be a graduate/professional student
  • Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree or eligible certificate program
  • Complete a Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional Students
  • If a first-time borrower: submit Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and a PLUS Master Promissory Note for Graduate/Professional Students
  • Complete Exit Counseling online after graduating, withdrawing, or dropping beneath half-time enrollment

Interest accrues immediately after the first disbursement. Repayment begins 45-60 days after the second disbursement. Deferred repayment options are available.

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