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Financial Aid Resources for Graduate Students

The following financial aid sources are available to matriculated graduate students enrolled in aid-eligible graduate programs only. Full-time enrollment for aid purposes is considered 12 credits or more, with half-time enrollment being 6 credits.

Graduate students who have not been accepted into an aid-eligible graduate program are generally not eligible to participate in federal aid programs. Non-matriculated students or students in programs that are not aid-eligible may qualify for private alternative loans.

Specific financial aid information provided below is subject to change.

The following graduate degree programs and graduate certificate programs are eligible for federal aid at SUNY Plattsburgh. Students matriculated in other graduate certificate programs are not eligible for federal aid.

Aid from SUNY Plattsburgh

Community Directors

Application deadline is February 15 for the fall semester. Information and application details are available by calling Graduate Admissions at 800-723-9515 or 518-564-4723. Specific questions may be directed to Campus Housing & Community Living at 800-569-3824.

Graduate Assistantships

For information and details about administrative, programmatic, and research assistantships,  visit our graduate assistantships page or call Graduate Admissions at 800-723-9515 or
518-564-4723. All assistantships have a February 15 application deadline for the fall semester.

Penfield Fellowship in Education

The Melissa Lahtinen Penfield Memorial Graduate Foundation Fellowship is awarded annually to a full-time matriculated student in a Master's program in Education. For additional information, contact the Teacher Education Office at 518-564-2125.

New York State Aid

EOP/HEOP/Seek Graduate Tuition Waiver

Graduates of New York State public or private colleges who participated in the EOP, SEEK, or HEOP programs as undergraduates are eligible for a graduate grant. Student must be matriculated in a Master's degree program and earning their first graduate degree; graduate certificate programs are not eligible.  Amounts vary with available funds. 

Graduate Diversity Fellowships

U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will contribute to the diversity of the student body are eligible to apply for Graduate Diversity Fellowships by Feb. 15. The fellowships are available to new applicants to SUNY Plattsburgh’s graduate programs. Full-time enrollment (12 credits) is required. Stipend amounts are determined by the campus and depend on annual funding from New York State.

Federal Financial Aid

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) online at www.fafsa.gov. Choose Plattsburgh’s college code (002849) to ensure that your federal application data will be transmitted to our office. File the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1st of the year prior to the start of your enrollment.  See “How to Apply” 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.

Based on your FAFSA, your eligibility will be calculated for a Federal Direct Loan, Federal TEACH Grant, and Federal Work-Study.

Federal Direct Loan Program

Matriculated graduate students attending at least half time may apply for assistance through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program. The maximum annual unsubsidized loan is $20,500 with a fixed interest rate of 6.60%. There is also an origination/guarantee fee of 1.062% that is deducted at the time of disbursement.

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 ten year re-payment period and other re-payment options. Visit our loans page for more information on 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 nor 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 4 academic years within 8 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 www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Federal Work-Study

Work-study may be awarded to matriculated graduate students with financial need attending on at least a half-time basis. The wage rate is normally $11.10 per hour. If you are awarded work-study, it will be included on your financial aid award letter. In early August, we start to provide instruction on how to apply for a job. These instructions include the terms and conditions for employment. Information about other student jobs is available here.

Federal 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. The interest rate is fixed at 7.60%. PLUS loans have an origination/guarantee fee of 4.248% that is deducted at the time of disbursement. Upon request, repayment is deferred until six months after you graduate or fall below half-time status. The Graduate PLUS Application and Master Promissory Note are both available at studentloans.gov.

Financial 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.

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