Financial Aid

Graduate Financial Aid Services offers programs to assist students in financing their education regardless of income or eligibility for need-based financial aid. Located in 243 Whitmore Administration Building, Financial Aid has office hours Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Telephone number is (413) 577-0555; TDD (413) 545-9420; email: grads@finaid.umass.edu; website: www.umass.edu/umfa

In order to be considered for Federal Financial Aid, applicants must be:

• a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• enrolled in or admitted to a degree or certificate program of study at least half-time (six credits)
• making satisfactory academic progress in a program of study
• not in default on a Federal Student Loan; or owe a refund on a Federal grant
• registered for the Selective Service (if required)
• free of convictions for any illegal drug offense or meet the specific eligibility criteria determined by the Department of Education if you do have a drug-related conviction.

Applying for Need-Based Aid

The Application Form

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only application used to apply for financial aid at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the 2005-06 academic year. The information on the FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal, state, and institutional funds. List the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Step Six of your original application and indicate the school code, 002221.

Although there is no deadline to file an application for a Direct Student Loan, consideration for other types of need-based aid such as Federal Work-study are given on a first-come first-served basis. Such programs require applications to be filed by February 15 to meet the University's March 1 deadline.

The following versions of the FAFSA form are available. Please submit only one version of the form to the central processor.

The Paper FAFSA

First-time applicants for financial aid may file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is available at college financial aid offices. Applicants may request a FAFSA by calling Financial Aid Services and using the Voice Response System, (413) 545-0801.

The Federal Processor automatically mails the Renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid in early December to renewal applicants. Students who did not receive this form in January 2005 should file the paper or electronic FAFSA.

FAFSA and Renewal FAFSA on the Web

Students may now use an interactive application on the Internet to apply for federal, state and University aid. FAFSA on the Web is also available for renewal applicants. For more information about using this version of the FAFSA, use the link to the Department of Education provided on Financial Aid's home page or visit www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Non-Degree and Program Fee Students

Graduate non-degree students enrolled at least half-time (6 credits per semester) may be eligible for a Federal Direct Loan under the following conditions: the student applied for admission to a graduate degree program and will be considered for admission at a later date and the coursework is verified by a Graduate Program Director as preparatory/prerequisite in nature before admission to a degree program. A memo from the Graduate Program Director to the Graduate Financial Aid Office is required to verify this information before a non-degree student may be awarded financial aid.

Program fee students may be eligible for a Federal Direct Student Loan if the credit hours of enrollment and research work on their degree requirements can be classified as equivalent to at least half-time. This enrollment status for Program Fee students is certified by the Graduate Registrar upon notification from the student's Graduate Program Director. Since there are no tuition charges, loan funds may be used for indirect educational expenses.

Need-Based Resources

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is a need-based Federal Loan administered by the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Eligibility for this loan is determined by completing the FAFSA. The interest rate varies annually up to a maximum of 8.25 percent. The federal government pays the interest on subsidized loans while students are enrolled in school and during a six-month grace period after graduation or withdrawal from school. Several flexible repayment options are offered.

Federal Work-Study is available to a limited number of graduate students who have a graduate appointment other than a Fellowship, and are carrying at least six credits. The Federal Work-Study award is used as part of the funding source for the stipend. This award is subject to approval by the hiring department, Graduate Assistantship Office, and Financial Aid Services.

To be considered for this award, or to obtain further information on the various loans outlined in this publication, please visit or contact the Graduate Finanical Aid Office

Alternative Resources

Several programs are available to supplement a financial aid award or to assist students who do not qualify for need-based financial aid.

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan  is available to eligible students regardless of income or financial need. Students must complete the FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA to be considered for this program. Interest payments for the Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan begin the day the loan is disbursed and can be paid monthly, quarterly, or capitalized (adding the interest to the loan principle). Borrowers can receive subsidized and unsubsidized loans for the same loan period, although the combination of both cannot exceed their cost of education and/or $18,500 per year.

The MEFA Loan for Graduate Education,  administered by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), is a low-cost, fixed-interest-rate loan that allows creditworthy students to borrow up to their cost of attendance minus other financial aid. If the student applies with a creditworthy co-applicant, the effective cost is even lower. Loans may be deferred for up to five years while the student is attending at least half time in a degree-conferring program. Repayment begins six months after graduation.

For additional information and an application for the MEFA loan, contact MEFA, tel. 1-800-449-MEFA, or visit the Web site at www.mefa.org.

Financial Aid Services Home Page

Financial Aid Services maintains a home page on the World Wide Web at: www.umass.edu/umfa. Helpful information is available on a variety of topics, including financial aid application procedures, student employment, and loan information.

Scholarship Search On the Web

www.massachusetts.edu/scholarships

UMass SPIRE

UMass SPIRE is the web-based system for student registration. It also allows students to view and update their demographic information, view their schedules, bills, and financial aid information, and print an unofficial transcript for their own use. Access SPIRE at  https://spire.umass.edu.

Loan Deferments

Deferments are available for graduate students who have outstanding Federal Student Loan(s) and are enrolled at least half-time (six credits). The Graduate Records Office coordinates loan deferments for graduate students with the National Student Loan Clearinghouse.