Financial Aid Resources for Graduate Students
There are many financial aid opportunities for matriculated students pursuing professional preparation, including grants and scholarships.
Graduate Funding Resources
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
If your program is not listed above, or if you are attending as a non-matriculated student, you may wish to explore private student loans as an option to help with college costs. Specific financial aid information provided below is subject to change.
State & Institutional Resources
- Graduate Assistantships
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.
Applications for graduate assistantships are due by February 15. You must have a complete admissions application in order to be considered for an assistantship. The application will be available in December.
- Graduate Fellowships
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 $19 per hour and earn up to $11,400 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.
- Graduate Diversity Fellowships
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.
To be eligible for a diversity fellowship, one must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be a newly applying full-time graduate student to a master’s or certificate of advanced study program
- Be able to contribute to the diversity of a graduate degree program or field of study
- Have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education (particular consideration will be given to economic disadvantage)
- Have high intellectual and professional promise
- Have completed a diversity fellowship application, as well as an application for admission for fall by February 15.
The diversity fellowship application is available annually in November.
- Graduate Opportunity Program
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.
If you identify on the Graduate Admissions Application that you graduated from an EOP/HEOP/SEEK program, you will be invited to apply. If you would like to apply for GOP funding, please complete the GOP Application by February 15. The application requires you to provide the name and contact information of the EOP/HEOP/SEEK director of the program from which you graduated. An email will be sent to the director requesting certification of your participation. Funding for the program is extremely limited and awards are not guaranteed for all who apply. - Employment
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.
- Veterans Tuition Awards
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.
Federal Aid Resources
- Eligibility & Application Instructions
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 Financial Aid Resources for Graduate Students 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.
- Federal Direct Loan
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
- Federal TEACH Grant Loan
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.
- Federal Work-Study
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.
- Graduate PLUS Loan
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).
- Federal Aid for Non-Matriculation
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.
Program Specific Funding Sources
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- School Psychology
- Teacher Education
- Federal TEACH Grant
- NYS Masters in Education Teacher Incentive
- NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive
- 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 $1,000 (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 MST students. The annual deadline is in early to mid-March. Questions? Contact the Office of the Dean of Education, Health, and Human Services at 518-564-3066.