Graduate Student Financial Aid
Students interested in pursuing their graduate degrees may qualify for financial aid to help cover their costs. Learn more about your financial aid options as a Graduate below!
FAFSA Aid Offers
The majority of graduate students that are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are only eligible for graduate-level unsubsidized loans through the FAFSA application, although it is possible for a graduate student to qualify for Federal Work Study, as determined by their Student Aid Index (SAI) on the FAFSA.
In addition to graduate unsubsidized loans, graduates can apply for Grad PLUS Loans through the Office of Financial Aid, which can help pay for educational expenses. To apply for a Grad PLUS Loan, you must complete and submit your FAFSA.
Enrollment Requirements
For a graduate student to utilize financial aid offered through the FAFSA application, they must enroll in at least 5 graduate-level hours that count towards their Course Program of Study (CPoS) per semester. In general, a graduate student is considered full time at 9 or more graduate level hours, three-quarter time at 6-8 graduate level hours, and half-time at 5 graduate level hours
HOPE Scholarship
Hope Scholarship recipients may be eligible to receive Hope Scholarship funds while enrolled in an advanced degree program if they meet all the following criteria:
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Graduate with a Bachelor's degree from an eligible Tennessee college or university on or after July 1, 2023;
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Have not reached the maximum 5-year program completion limit from the date of initial enrollment;
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Enroll in an eligible advanced degree program such as a Master's or Doctoral degree the semester after receiving a Bachelor's degree
All other renewal criteria, such as GPA and continuous enrollment requirements, still apply. You can read more about Hope's renewal criteria on our Retaining HOPE webpage.
The amount for graduate students is $5,700 per year for full time enrollment. Enrolling less than full time will result in a prorated disbursement. For graduates students:
9+ credit hours = full time
6-8 credit hours = 3/4 time
5 credit hours = 1/2 time
Graduates who enroll in less than 5 credit hours per semester are not eligible to utilize Hope. Learn more about Course Program of Study on our webpage.
Graduate Assistantships
Multiple departments on campus offer assistantships to their graduate level students. If awarded an assistantship, your department will help cover your tuition costs and may offer you a monthly stipend to work for the department. Graduate students can learn more about and apply for assistantships through the College of Graduate Studies. If you are interested in applying for an assistantship, apply early, and do not wait to be formally admitted before doing so!
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
For those pursuing a Master's Degree in Education, The Department of Education's Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program (TLF) offers forgiveness options for those who teach full time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency and meet other qualifications. You can learn about about the TLF and its eligibility requirements here.
Have questions? Don't worry, we are here to help! Both the Office of Financial Aid and the College of Graduate Studies are ready and willing to assist you. If you have any questions about graduate aid opportunities or applying, please consult the Graduate Studies website or email our offices by selecting one of the links below.
Graduate Studies Website Graduate Studies E-mail Financial Aid E-mail