Graduate students applying for any type of financial aid including but not limited to: loans, graduate assistantships, and scholarships should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Click here to go to the FAFSA website.

In addition to completing your electronic FAFSA application, please email onestop@wilkes.edu indicating:

1. that you are registered for 6 or more credits and the start dates for your classes.
2. that you have successfully completed the FAFSA
3. the amount of financial aid you are applying for. 

This is especially important if you are not interested in the maximum amount of Stafford Loans.

This extra step will guarantee proper processing of your financial aid.  If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Student Services at (570) 408-2000 Option 1.

For the Stafford Loan, a Master Promissory Note is also required. For on-campus employment, a Student Employment Application is required.

While each has its unique characteristics, there are some standardized features that apply to all of the following loans.

In order to qualify, a student must be:

1. accepted as a degree candidate;
2. a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
3. enrolled on at least a half-time basis in eligible graduate-level courses at financial aid approved locations;
4. in good academic standing according to the academic progress standard set for receipt of federal aid.

In order for enrollment in courses to qualify for federal financial aid eligibility the site where they are offered must be approved by the Department of Education if more than 50% of the academic program is available at that site.

Since the University seeks flexibility in selecting sites for the off-campus graduate education program, the University has chosen not to request approval of each of these sites. Therefore, students enrolled in these courses do not qualify for federal financial aid, including the Stafford Loan program.

Private loan programs, however, are available to help students enrolled in these courses cover educational expenses. Contact the Financial Aid Office for additional information on these private loans.

to borrow funds from a bank, credit union, savings and loan, or other participating lenders. It is available to both full- and part-time degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in eligible courses who demonstrate financial need.

The loan is interest free while you are enrolled at least half time for six months following termination of enrollment. Interest begins to accrue and repayment of principle and interest begins in the seventh month after you are no longer enrolled on at least a half-time basis.

The maximum graduate student subsidized Stafford Loan is $8,500 per academic year.

in that you must pay interest on the loan while enrolled. This loan is primarily for those who do not qualify for sufficient funds under the subsidized Stafford Student Loan.

Loan limits and interest rates are not the same as for a subsidized loan.  For a 2008-2009 unsubsidized stafford loan the interest rate is 6.8%.  If you are eligible for only a portion of the subsidized loan, you may wish to borrow the difference through the unsubsidized loan program within the allowed limit.

You are expected to make quarterly interest payments throughout your enrollment period. Repayment of the principal begins six months after you are no longer enrolled at least half time. The repayment period may extend up to 10 years.

Graduate students are eligible to apply for additional unsubsidized Stafford Loan funds in excess of the $8,500 maximum limit. The maximum unsubsidized Stafford Loan limit for graduate level students is $12,500.  The total Stafford Loan limit per year for graduate students is $8,500 subsidized and $12,500 unsubsidized or less within the cost of attendance.

This loan carries an additional interest rate. Repayment obligations are the same as the unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

The federal government will make the loan available for graduate and professional students. It was previously only available to parents of undergraduate students.

We strongly encourage students to consider this Graduate PLUS Loan program when looking for additional funding beyond the Stafford Loans.  You may wish to use the Graduate PLUS Loan in place of a private, alternative loan.  First time borrowers of the Graduate Plus loan are now reuired to complete entrance counseling.