Information for Graduate/ Professional Students

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What financial aid is available?

Federal Direct Unsubsidized LoanFederal Grad PLUS Loan

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How to Apply for Federal Direct Student LoansTo apply for Federal Direct Student Loans

complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

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FAFSA Eligibility RequirementsTo qualify for federal student aid a student must:• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen

(eligible noncitizens include U.S. nationals, U.S. permanent residents)• Be in a eligible degree program• Be enrolled at least half-time• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in collegeAdditional eligibility criteria can be found at:https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements

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Federal Direct Unsubsidized LoanUnsubsidized: Student is responsible for interest that accrues while in school. Student may pay the interest while in school or let the interest add to the balance & begin payment six months after graduation or becoming enrolled less than half-time.

Interest rate for loans disbursed between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 is 4.30% fixed.

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Annual Loan Limits for Unsubsidized Loans

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Grad PLUS LoanRequires a credit check.If a student accepts a Grad PLUS Loan in Athena, the student’s information will automatically be submitted to Federal Student Aid for the credit check. The student will receive notification from Federal Student Aid regarding whether or not they have been approved or denied for the loan.

The interest rate is fixed at 5.30% for loans disbursed between July 1, 2020 & June 31, 2021.

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What options do I have if I am turned down for the Grad PLUS Loan?1. You can appeal the credit check decision.The Department of Education allows borrowers whose credit was denied the opportunity to document either of the following situations.

• Information showing that credit reporting used in the credit denial is incorrect and/or has been corrected.• Extenuating circumstances exist relating to the adverse credit history of the primary PLUS borrower.

Borrowers make a credit appeal through studentaid.gov. • Log in to studentaid.gov and select "Apply for Aid" then choose "Appeal a Credit Decision" from the drop-down menu.

OR2. You can procure an endorser.An endorser is someone who will pass the credit check and who agrees, similar to a co-signer, to repay the PLUS Loan if the student borrower is unable to do so. • An endorser should log into studentaid.gov with the endorser's FSAID (if the endorser does not have an

FSAID, the endorser will need to create one) then choose "Apply for Aid" then choose "Endorse a PLUS Loan" from the drop-down menu.

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Federal Direct Loan Origination FeesFederal Direct Loan (FDL) Origination FeeThe origination fee is the amount a borrower is required to pay the U.S. Department of Education to help reduce the cost of supporting FDLs. The origination fee is withheld from each loan disbursement and is calculated by multiplying the semester’s gross loan award amount by the applicable origination fee percentage.

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How are loan amounts determined?UGA Graduate Student : Georgia Resident : Off-Campus

Estimated Cost of Attendance for Fall 2020 & Spring 2021 Combined

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A student’s Federal Student Loans & other financial aid cannot exceed the school’s Estimated Cost of Attendance.

Tuition* $8,686Average Student Fees* $1,774

Room $8,680Board $4,036Books $524

Transportation $1254Miscellaneous Living Expenses $3,574

Total: $28,528

* = Direct Costs

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Additional Items to ConsiderA student must be enrolled at least half-time to receive a Federal Direct Unsub or Grad PLUS Loan. For UGA Graduate Students:Half-time for Fall or Spring for Federal Student Aid purposes is 5 hours.Half-time for Summer for Federal Student Aid purposes is 3 hours. For UGA Professional Students: (Law (JD), PharmD, DVM) Half-time for Fall or Spring for Federal Student Aid purposes is 6 hours.Half-time for Summer for Federal Student Aid purposes is 3 hours.

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Steps for First-Time BorrowersIf you are a first-time borrower, you must sign an online Master Promissory Note and complete online Entrance Counseling. These items can be completed via studentaid.gov

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Graduate PLUS Loan The Grad PLUS Loan requires a separate Master Promissory Note.

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How to Navigate Athena to Accept/ Decline Loan offersStep One:Login to Athena with UGA MYID and password.

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Step Two:Click on the Financial Aid tab.

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Step Three:Click on Award then Award for Aid Year.

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Step Four:Click on Accept Award Offer.

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I wish to change my loan acceptance. What should I do?

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Submit a Change in Aid Request

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If I wish to make payments on my loan, what do I do?

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Contact Your Loan Servicer

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How to Search for ScholarshipsLogin to Scholarship Universe at uga.scholarshipuniverse.com

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Info regarding assistantships

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Fall 2020 Payment DeadlinesFall 2020 dates to remember:

1st Due Date: August 20, 2020 2nd Due Date (Drop/Add Activity): August 27, 2020 Late Fee Assessed: August 31, 2020 Payment Deadline to Avoid Schedule Cancellation: September 8, 2020For more information regarding tuition & fees, payment deadlines and/ or payment methods, please visit busfin.uga.edu/bursar/

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OSFA Contact InformationAddress:The University of GeorgiaOffice of Student Financial Aid220 Holmes/Hunter Academic BuildingAthens, GA 30602-6114Phone: 706-542-6147Fax: 706-542-8217Website: osfa.uga.eduEmail: osfa@uga.eduOffice Hours: MON-FRI 8AM-5PMIn response to several UGA and State of Georgia directives regarding COVID-19, and for your safety and that of OSFA staff, UGA Office of Student Financial Aid is currently closed to in-person traffic. This closure is effective as of March 16, 2020 through TBD. Please contact us 24/7 by email at OSFA@UGA.EDU or by phone (706-542-6147) Mon.-Fri. between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Please check our website for updates regarding our contact information.