Types of Aid: Graduate Students

Tufts Institutional Scholarships and Assistantships Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Federal Work-Study Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loan Private Educational Loans

Tufts graduate students finance their education through a variety of funding sources, including tuition scholarships, Federal Work-Study, and both federal and private educational loans.

Tufts Institutional Scholarships and Assistantships

Most scholarships, fellowships, and research or teaching assistantships are administered through the Dean’s Office or Admissions Office of your school. Application processes for tuition scholarships vary by school.

Admitted students being offered institutional tuition scholarships and/or assistantships will be notified by their school shortly after acceptance. Please reach out to your Admissions Office with questions about institutional tuition scholarships or assistantships.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

The federal Direct unsubsidized loan is available to graduate students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program.

The interest rate is 7.94% for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2025, and before July 1, 2026.
The origination fee is 1.057% for loans disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2020, and before Oct. 1, 2025.
Interest accrues on the loan while the student is enrolled, during the grace period, and throughout repayment.
Repayment begins six months after a student is no longer enrolled at least half-time.
The standard repayment term is ten years, but many borrowers may choose other repayment options including Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Students may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year. OTD, GBA, and GMAP students may borrow $10,250 per term.
Borrowers may not exceed the $138,500 lifetime aggregate limit for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans.

Federal Direct Loan Application Process

If you are a first-time federal Direct loan borrower, you must complete the following steps. Your loan will not be disbursed until you have completed all steps. Tufts will cancel loans if all steps are not completed.

1. Complete the FAFSA and send to Tufts (school code 002219).

2. Submit an Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note to agree to loan terms.

3. Complete Loan Entrance Counseling to learn about borrowing.

4. Accept your loan online through SIS (click Financial Aid tab, Award and Documents, then click Accept or Decline loans page from menu).

Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study is available to in-person graduate students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, and are enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program.

Federal Work-Study provides the opportunity — but not the obligation — to obtain an on-campus job and earn money to help cover out-of-pocket expenses such as food or rent. Work-Study earnings are paid directly to the student and are not applied to the Tufts bill.

Students are responsible for applying for and securing a Work-Study position. For more information, visit our Student Employment page.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

The federal Direct Grad PLUS loan is available to graduate students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program.

The interest rate is 8.94% for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2025, and before July 1, 2026.
The origination fee is 4.228% for loans disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2020, and before Oct. 1, 2025.
Interest accrues on the loan while the student is enrolled, during the grace period, and throughout repayment.
Repayment begins six months after a student is no longer enrolled at least half-time.
The standard repayment term is ten years, but many borrowers may choose other repayment options.
Students may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus all other financial aid.
Any student wishing to borrow for the cost of health insurance should contact gradfinaid@tufts.edu.

Grad PLUS Loan Application Process

1. Complete the FAFSA and send to Tufts (school code 002219). Student Financial Services will first award the federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, as it offers better interest rates and terms than the Graduate PLUS Loan.

2. Complete the credit-based Grad PLUS loan application and choose a loan amount. Contact Student Financial Services if you need help choosing how much to borrow. The PLUS loan application generally opens on May 1.

3. Submit a Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note to agree to loan terms.

4. Complete Loan Entrance Counseling to learn about borrowing.

5. Accept your loan online through SIS (click Bills and Balances tab, Award and Documents, then click Accept or Decline loans page from menu).

What to Do if Your Graduate PLUS Loan Is Denied
If your Graduate PLUS Loan application is denied due to adverse credit history, you still have options. Please follow the steps below:
Review the Denial Reason
Log in to studentaid.gov to view the reason your loan was denied. You can also contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) for clarification.
Choose One of the Following Options
After reviewing the reason for denial, you have two main paths forward:
Option A: Apply with an Endorser
- You can reapply for the loan with a credit-worthy endorser (similar to a co-signer)
- The endorser must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
- The endorser must pass a credit check and agree to repay the loan if you do not
- Both you and your endorser must complete the required PLUS Credit Counseling on studentaid.gov.
Option B: Appeal the Credit Decision
- If you believe there are errors in your credit report or you have extenuating circumstances, you may appeal the denial through studentaid.gov.
- If your appeal is approved, you will also be required to complete PLUS Credit Counseling.
Notify the Financial Aid Office
If you plan to reapply with an endorser or appeal the credit decision, please inform our office. We cannot proceed with certifying your loan until you’ve successfully completed one of the options above. You can email is a gradfinaid@tufts.edu.
Explore Alternative Funding Options
If the PLUS Loan is not approved or you choose not to pursue an endorser or appeal, consider the following alternatives:
- Apply for a Private Educational Loan
  Many banks and credit unions offer private student loans. Please note that a credit check is required, and interest rates and terms will vary by lender.
- Consider the Tufts Monthly Payment Plan
  This option allows you to spread your tuition payments over several months, helping to manage out-of-pocket expenses.
- Apply for Outside Scholarships
  Look into external scholarship opportunities offered by professional organizations, foundations, employers, or community groups. Every dollar awarded can help reduce your borrowing needs.
If you have any questions or would like assistance navigating this process, please contact our office at gradfinaid@tufts.edu.

Private Educational Loans (Alternative Loans)

Private education loans are non-federal loans offered by private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and state agencies. These loans can help cover educational costs after federal, state, and institutional aid has been considered.

We strongly encourage students and families to:

First complete the FAFSA and review all federal loan options
Borrow only what is necessary
Carefully compare loan terms, interest rates, fees, repayment options, and borrower benefits

Compare Lenders Through ELM SELECT

To help you make an informed decision, we provide a list of lenders through ELM SELECT, an independent comparison tool.

Through ELM SELECT, you can:

View our preferred lender list
Compare interest rates, fees, repayment options, and borrower benefits
Access lender application links
Select any lender that best meets your needs

Access ELM SELECT: View in ELM Select

Important:

You are not required to choose a lender from this list. You may select any lender of your choice, and your loan will be processed the same way.

Private loan applications are submitted online directly through the lender. Due to processing time and the high volume of requests, you should apply for a private loan no later than three weeks before your student's billing due date. Once the application process is complete and the loan is approved, Tufts will certify the loan and place a pending credit for the semester on your student's account as confirmation. You can log in to SIS to view the loan credit at that time.

Preferred Lender List Information

Our preferred lender list is provided as a resource to assist students and families in comparing private loan options. Lenders included on the list were selected through a formal Request for Information (RFI) process based on criteria such as:

Competitive interest rates and fees
Flexible repayment options and borrower benefits
Quality of customer service and default management support
Ease and timeliness of application processing and loan disbursement

We review lender information periodically to ensure the list reflects the needs of our students and families.

The university:

Does not receive any financial benefit from lenders for inclusion on this list
Has no revenue-sharing agreements with any lender
Does not assign a borrower’s loan to a specific lender
Will process loans from any eligible lender you choose

Lenders are not ranked or listed in order of preference.

International Student Loan Options

International students may be eligible for private education loans through lenders that offer international loan programs.

Most international private loans require:

A creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer
Enrollment in an eligible degree program

Some lenders may offer no-co-signer international loan programs based on school eligibility and borrower criteria.

International students can use ELM SELECT to:

Identify lenders that work with international borrowers
Compare loan options
Access application links

We encourage international students to review lender eligibility requirements carefully before applying. These lenders are evaluated through the same RFI and review process described above, with additional consideration given to their experience serving international borrowers and the accessibility of their loan products.

Borrower Choice

Students and families are not required to use a lender from the Preferred Lender List. You have the right to select any eligible lender, and Tufts will process and certify private education loans from any lender you choose.

We encourage borrowers to carefully compare loan terms, interest rates, fees, repayment options, and borrower protections before making a decision. Whenever possible, students should first consider federal student loans, which typically offer more favorable repayment protections and benefits.

Borrower Requirements and Disclosures

Under the Higher Education Act, private education loan borrowers must:

Receive a disclosure from the lender outlining loan terms and costs
Complete a Private Education Loan Self-Certification Form
Observe a three-day right-to-cancel period after final approval and before disbursement

Code of Conduct and Compliance

In accordance with the Higher Education Act, the university follows a strict Student Loan Code of Conduct:

No revenue-sharing arrangements with lenders
No gifts or incentives accepted from lenders
No preferred lender placement based on financial benefit
No staffing assistance from lenders
Borrower choice of lender is always honored

Tufts conducts its RFI and lender review periodically. During this process:
- Lenders are invited to submit detailed information about their loan products and services.
- Responses are reviewed using standardized evaluation criteria.
- The Preferred Lender List is updated as appropriate based on the results of the review.
For questions about private education loans or the Preferred Lender List, please contact gradfinaid@tufts.edu.

Tufts University has always been committed to the highest standards of professional conduct and ethical behavior. We recognize that ensuring the integrity of the student financial aid process is critical to providing fair and affordable access to higher education. With the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, Congress has required that all colleges post a Code of Conduct relating to financial aid, private lending and student choice. Accordingly, the staff in Student Financial Services herein confirms that we adhere to the following sound practices.
I. University employees do not receive any personal benefits from Lending Institutions
No member of the Student Financial Services staff will accept anything of more than nominal value on his or her behalf or on behalf of another person or entity from any Lending Institution. For example, cash, stocks, gifts, entertainment, expense-paid trips, etc. will never be accepted from a Lending Institution. Likewise, an individual will never accept payment or reimbursement from a Lending Institution for lodging, meals or travel to conferences or training seminars.
II. The University does not provide any advantage to a Lending Institution
The staff in Student Financial Services does not accept anything of value from any Lending Institution in exchange for any advantage or consideration provided to the Lending Institution related to its student loan activities, including but not limited to revenue-sharing, printing costs or below-cost computer hardware or software. Likewise, the University does not allow any Lending Institution to staff the Student Financial Services office or Student Services calling center at any time.
III. The University makes appropriate use of any Preferred Lender Lists
The selection of Lending Institutions for inclusion on the private/alternative loans Preferred Lender List is based solely on the best interests of University students and their parents without regard to the financial interests of the University. We abide by the following:
- Students and their parents are free to select the Lending Institution of their choice for private/alternative loans and will suffer no penalty imposed by the University from using a Lending Institution that is not a “Preferred Lender.”
- Students and their parents are not required to use any of the University private/alternative loan “Preferred Lenders” and may borrow through any lender or guarantor they choose.
- The University does not assign a borrower’s loan to a particular lender and will certify all loans based on a borrower’s selection of a lender.
IV. University employees do not serve on lender advisory boards for remuneration
No officer, trustee or employee of the University who makes financial aid decisions for the University or who is employed in, supervises or otherwise has responsibility or authority over the University Student Financial Services office will receive any remuneration for serving as a member or participant on a student loan advisory board of a Lending Institution, or receive any reimbursement of expenses for such service.