FINANCIAL AID OVERVIEW. (Graduate Students)

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1 FINANCIAL AID OVERVIEW (Graduate Students)

2 Financial Aid Office Mission Statement We aim to assist and counsel students and families in identifying the necessary financial resources required to further reduce student debt. Goals: -Serve and meet the needs of our students in the most expedient and efficient manner possible -Provide information concerning a variety of scholarship, grant, loan, and employment programs.

3 FAFSA Timeline File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually by the deadline, May 1st, to receive aid.* File your FAFSA: Drexel School Code: If you cannot locate your FAFSA pin, please log onto Please complete the Institutional Financial Aid Application-IFAAP: and fax it to as soon as possible. The information provided on this form will enable the SRC/Financial Aid Office to correctly process your financial aid award package. Not doing so will prevent you from being packaged with aid. FINANCING OPTIONS A copy of the Financing Options Guide can be viewed at: *Our office recommends students to file as early as March 1 or earlier if possible. The FAFSA application becomes available on January 1st every year.

4 FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENTS 1. Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling: If you are borrowing for the first time at Drexel University, go to to complete the federally required Direct Loan Entrance Counseling. Once you log in using your Federal PIN number, social security number, and date of birth, you will want to select the first listed option in the middle of the page titled Complete Entrance Counseling. Follow the instructions to complete your counseling session electronically. The university will be notified once you have done so. 2. Complete Your Loan Documents: All returning and new borrowers will need to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for your Federal Stafford Direct Loans through Once you log in using your Federal PIN number, social security number, and date of birth, you will want to select the Complete MPN option located at the left side of the page under Master Promissory Note. Select the loan type you are completing the promissory note for. Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans are the primary financing option used. Follow the instructions to complete the promissory note. The university will be notified once you have done so. 3. Apply for Additional Financing in June: Once you have carefully reviewed your financing plan, if you decide to borrow a Federal Graduate PLUS Direct Loan you should make application (apply) for this loan through Log in using your Federal PIN number, social security number, and date of birth, you will want to select the Request PLUS Loan option located at the left side of the page under PLUS Loan Process. Before applying for a PLUS loan you will need your Federal PIN number, personal information, any employer information, and school name. Complete the request for a Graduate PLUS loan. The university will be notified of students who gain approval for these loans and will begin certifying them in early June. After students gain approval for a Graduate PLUS loan they will also need to sign a promissory note, which is completed on the same website. Select the Complete MPN option located at the left side of the page under Master Promissory Note. Select the loan type you are completing the promissory note for, which in this case is a Graduate PLUS. Follow the instructions to complete the promissory note. The university will be notified once you have done so. 4. Making Changes: Once you have carefully reviewed your financing plan, if you decide to make changes to reduce or cancel a recommended loan amount, please submit a request via ASK DREXEL:

5 Aid for Graduate Students Federal Subsidized Stafford Direct Loan* Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Direct Loan Federal Graduate Plus Direct Loan *Granted on a need basis and require income verification from your FAFSA

6 Stafford Direct Loan Program Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federally insured education loans The government pays the interest while you are in school, in grace and in an approved deferment for Federal Subsidized Stafford Direct Loans Loan processing fees may be applied by the loan servicer off each disbursement- READ YOUR MPN (Master Promissory Note) Interest accrual on the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Direct Loan begins at the point of disbursement. No payments until 6 months after you graduate, drop below half time enrollment or withdraw from school Current Interest Rate: 6.8% fixed* *The government can make changes to interest rates every July 1st

7 Graduate PLUS Direct Loan Graduate and Professional students can apply Students may borrow up to the cost of education minus any other financial aid Eligibility is NOT based on need or income Your credit will be checked and the current origination fee is 2.5% off each disbursement- READ YOUR MPN (Master Promissory Note) No payments while in school Borrowers are responsible for the interest daily from the point of disbursement until it is repaid in full No aggregate as long as you have an unmet need 6 month post-enrollment deferment for loans disbursed after 7/1/2008; however, be certain to verify with your loan servicer/biller Current Interest Rate: 7.9% fixed* *The government can make changes to interest rates every July 1st

8 Federal Loan Aggregate Limits Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans: $138,500* Federal Graduate Plus Loans: no aggregate (cap/max) as long as there is room in your academic budget (cost of attendance) *The above aggregate includes debt from undergraduate and graduate studies

9 To research Outside Scholarships, go to: If you are awarded outside scholarships, please notify our office with the name and amount you will be awarded from the scholarship donor by submitting a request to ASK DREXEL:

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11 Financial Aid Contact Information ASK DREXEL: Phone: Drexel University College of Medicine Student Resource Center/Financial Aid 2900 Queen Lane, Suite G-27 Philadelphia, PA Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm (excluding Tuesdays when the office opens at 11am)