Financial Aid Resources for Graduate Students

SUNY Plattsburgh’s graduate assistantships are an excellent way to gain professional experience while earning a tuition discount and stipend. Graduate assistants work 10-20 hours per week during the academic year in exchange for a 50-100% tuition waiver (at NYS resident rate), as well as a stipend valued at $3,000-$9,900 per year.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

SUNY Plattsburgh’s Graduate Fellowship Program allows eligible graduate students to work part-time in a position related to their academic and/or professional goals while enrolled in a master’s or graduate certificate program at SUNY Plattsburgh. Fellowship positions can include research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or paraprofessional roles which will provide skills/experience relevant to the student’s career goals.

Graduate fellows can work up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and 29 hours per week during winter and summer. Fellows are paid $20 per hour and earn up to $12,000 during the year. Graduate fellowships are funded by the Federal Work Study program. Award amounts are determined by Student Financial Services and cannot exceed a student’s unmet financial need.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS & APPLY

SUNY Plattsburgh’s Graduate Diversity Fellowship Program provides full or partial tuition funding for students who successfully demonstrate through their application that they will contribute to the diversity of the graduate student body. 

The Graduate Diversity Fellowship Program (GDFP) is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination law. All application submissions will be assessed and evaluated in accordance with the required eligibility criteria.

The Graduate Diversity Fellowship Program application opens annually in the fall, and the application period closes annually on February 15.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIVERSITY FELLOWSHIPS & APPLY

The Radiance Fellowship is a new program developed by Campus Housing and Community Living, the Office of Graduate Admissions, and the Office of the Vice President of Enrollment and Student Success. The Radiance Fellowship affords housing discounts and an hourly wage in exchange for an on-campus work obligation. The Radiance Fellowship program is designed to support the recruitment and retention of graduate students and to encourage more graduate students to live on campus and be active participants in our college community.

Radiance fellows work 10 or 20 hours per week during the academic year in exchange for a 50-100% discount on a single residence hall room, as well as an hourly wage of $15.

Learn more about Radiance Fellowships & Apply

SUNY Plattsburgh’s Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP) offers tuition assistance of $1,000 to full NYS graduate tuition per semester for students who graduated from an EOP/HEOP/SEEK program. These funds are renewable annually, subject to fund availability.

If you identify on the Graduate Admissions Application that you graduated from an EOP/HEOP/SEEK program, you will be invited to apply. Applications must be completed by February 15 and include the name and contact information of the EOP/HEOP/SEEK director of the program from which you graduated. Funding for the program is limited and awards are not guaranteed for all who apply.

The GOP application is available annually in the fall.

Learn more about the Graduate Opportunity Program & Apply

Many graduate students seek on- or off-campus employment to help cover the costs of their education. As a SUNY Plattsburgh student, you have access to Handshake where you can find job postings. Handshake can be accessed via your MyPlattsburgh portal or via the Handshake Mobile App for Apple or Android devices. For more information, contact the Career Development Center.

Campus Housing & Community Living Positions

Apply to be a staff member in one of our residence halls and receive perks like a free, single room or apartment and discounted meal plan. Professional community directors also earn a salary of $36,000+ per year. Learn more about Campus Housing & Community Living Jobs and apply.

Cardinal Career Grants are available to currently enrolled graduate and undergraduate students at SUNY Plattsburgh. These funds are made possible through the support of the SUNY system and the Plattsburgh College Foundation, and administered by the Career Development Center (CDC).

Cardinal Career Grants are available to students to provide financial support related to under or unpaid applied learning experiences, which can include practicum, internships and other professional experiences away from the classroom. Preference is given to opportunities in public service and high-demand nonprofit sectors, as well as first-time applicants.

Please contact the Career Development Center directly for current information and questions about how you can access these grant opportunities.

To apply for Federal Financial Aid, file the FAFSA as soon as the application becomes available for the school year you are seeking assistance.

The following graduate degree programs and graduate certificate programs are eligible for federal aid at SUNY Plattsburgh:

• All master’s programs
• All combined bachelor’s and master’s programs
• School building leader certificate

For more information, visit Student Financial Services or schedule a virtual appointment with a financial aid advisor.

Your federal need will be determined on the basis of the income and asset information you provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Choose SUNY Plattsburgh as a college choice (college code 002849) to ensure that your federal application data will be transmitted to our office. File the FAFSA as soon as the application becomes available for the school year you are seeking assistance. See How to Apply for details. Please respond promptly to requests for additional information or clarification concerning your aid application and be prepared to submit a tax return transcript if requested by our office.

Matriculated graduate students attending at least half time may apply for assistance through the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The maximum annual unsubsidized loan is $20,500.  Learn more about the unsubsidized loan, its interest rate and loan fee, receiving and repaying your loan.

The unsubsidized loan starts to accrue interest after payment to your account. While in college, you can elect to pay the interest on an unsubsidized loan or have it added to the principal. Repayment on the unsubsidized loan starts no sooner than six months after you graduate or fall below half-time status. There is a standard 10-year re-payment period and other re-payment options. Visit our loans page for more information on Direct Unsubsidized Loans.

Get more information about Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH) is a federal grant for matriculated graduate students who intend to teach in public or private elementary or secondary schools that serve students from low-income families. Graduate students who meet the eligibility criteria can receive up to $4,000 per year, but no more than $8,000 in total. In exchange, recipients must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field that serves low-income students. A recipient must teach a majority of classes within the high-need field for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing their program of study. If a recipient fails to fulfill the service obligation, the grant will convert to an unsubsidized loan and the recipient must repay the money with back interest. For more information, go to StudentAid.gov.

Go to StudentAid.gov for more information

Work-study may be awarded to matriculated graduate students with financial need attending on at least a half-time basis. If you are awarded work-study you will have access to Handshake where you can find job postings. Handshake can be accessed via your MyPlattsburgh portal or via the Handshake Mobile App for Apple or Android devices. For more information, contact the Career Development Center.

Learn about work-study & student jobs

The Graduate PLUS Loan may be available to matriculated graduate students attending on at least a half-time basis. In order to establish eligibility, you must first apply for the annual loan maximum under the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Additionally, a credit review is required to determine that you do not have an adverse credit history. If you have adverse credit, the option exists to apply with an endorser who has a positive credit history. Learn more about the Graduate PLUS Loan, its interest rate and loan fee, receiving and repaying your loan. If interested, you must complete a PLUS Loan Application and a Master Promissory Note (MPN).

Some students enroll in coursework for enrichment or professional development purposes. Students who are not admitted into a degree or certificate program are not eligible for federal, state or institutional financial aid. If interested, non-matriculated students may apply for a private student loan. Income and credit eligibility guidelines exist; contact the lender for more information.

• NBCC Foundation Scholarships — Military, Minority, Rural
• NYS Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship Program
• NYS Child Welfare Worker Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program
• SUNY/OMH Mental Health Scholarship Program for Underrepresented and/or Multilingual Students
• NYSAHEC Scholars Program — Incentivizing service to rural communities and education on the social determinants of health
• The Bruce C. Potter Memorial Scholarship from the Northern Area Health Education Center (NAHEC) 

NASP-EST Minority Scholarship Program

• NYS Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship Program
• NYS Child Welfare Worker Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program
• SUNY/OMH Mental Health Scholarship Program for Underrepresented and/or Multilingual Students
• NYSAHEC Scholars Program — Incentivizing service to rural communities and education on the social determinants of health
• The Bruce C. Potter Memorial Scholarship from the Northern Area Health Education Center (NAHEC) 

• NYSAHEC Scholars Program — Incentivizing service to rural communities and education on the social determinants of health
• The Bruce C. Potter Memorial Scholarship from the Northern Area Health Education Center (NAHEC) 

• Application Fee Reimbursement — Our partner TEACH NY provides up to $100 in application fee reimbursements and a chance to win $1,000 in scholarships
  • Access by creating a TEACH NY accountbefore you apply to SUNY Plattsburgh.
  • Once you have subscribed to TEACH NY and submitted your application to SUNY Plattsburgh, you can submit your application reimbursement request
• Federal TEACH Grant
• NYS Masters in Education Teacher Incentive
• NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive
• TEACH NY Scholarship
• Melissa Lahtinen Penfield Memorial Fellowship — The Melissa Lahtinen Penfield Memorial Graduate Foundation Fellowship is awarded annually to new or returning full-time graduate students at SUNY Plattsburgh. An annual award of $7,000 (for tuition and fees) will be given to two recipients each year. The students must be in a master’s program in education and priority will be given to M.S.T. students. The deadline is March 7, 2025. Questions? Contact the Office of the Dean of Education, Health, and Human Services at 518-564-3066.
  Melissa Lahtinen Penfield Memorial Graduate Foundation Fellowship Application 2025-2026

The CSEA Tuition Benefits Program offers educational support to New York State employees represented by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA). Key features include:

• Tuition Vouchers — Available for use at over 150 participating institutions, allowing direct payment to schools for tuition costs.
• Tuition Reimbursement — Covers pre-paid tuition costs for accredited institutions, issued upon successful course completion.
• Exam Fee Reimbursement — Provides up to $350 per certification, licensure, or credit-by-exam, with no limit on the number of eligible exams.
• Adult Education Assistance — Includes funding for English as a Second Language (ESOL), high school equivalency, and remedial courses.
• Targeted Tuition Benefits — Focused programs for high-demand fields in New York state.

These benefits aim to enhance career mobility, support job requirements, and facilitate skill development. Employees can access detailed guidance and apply online through the Tuition Benefits Portal or via paper forms. For assistance, contact the NYS & CSEA Partnership for Education and Training at 800-253-4332 or [email protected]

United University Professions (UUP) offers several scholarship opportunities to support SUNY students and their families who are represented by UUP. Key features include:

• UUP Tuition Waiver — All UUP-represented employees are allowed to take one course per semester or session on a space-available basis.
• The William Scheuerman Post Baccalaureate Scholarship — This one-time scholarship of $3,000 is awarded annually to full-time SUNY graduate students who demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence, social justice issues and labor ideals. 
• The UUP Benefit Trust Fund — A $750 per semester award to eligible dependent children of UUP-represented employees.

These scholarships support non-tuition expenses like books and housing. Since 1988, UUP has awarded over 100 scholarships funded by member contributions. For eligibility details, contact UUP at 800-342-4206.

Veterans Tuition Awards — NYS Higher Education Services Corporation

Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are awards for full-time study and part-time study for eligible veterans matriculated in an approved graduate program. NYS HESC administers the VTA program. Learn more about VTA.