GRADUATE STUDENTS FINANCIAL AID PROCESS
How to Apply
Learn how to apply for federal loans, eligibility criteria and financing options.
We recommend completing the financial aid process at least two months prior to the semester start date.
The Office of Financial Assistance reviews requests for financial assistance once a student is registered AND all financial aid applications have been submitted.
To receive financial aid, graduate students are required to meet the following criteria:
- Must be accepted and matriculated into a degree-seeking program
- Remain enrolled on at least a half-time basis
- U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress*
*Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA and completing the total number of credit hours attempted in an academic year. SAP is reviewed at the end of each spring semester. Please take the time to review the full SAP Policy for Graduate Students.
- Complete the FAFSA
- Villanova School Code: 003388
After you have successfully submitted the FAFSA, our office will determine and award your Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility for the year. You will receive an email advising you to log onto your MyNova account to view your offered aid.
You will need to accept, decline, or modify the loan amounts that have been offered. If you are offered loan funding for a semester in which you will not attend, please e-mail to Financial Aid verifying which semester(s) you will be attending and the number of credits you plan to take per semester, and the total amount of loan funding (not to exceed $20,500) of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan funding you wish to accept. We will then be able to make the necessary adjustments and send you a revised aid notice.
Please read the Financial Aid Booklet for Graduate Students, carefully in its entirety for it contains important information regarding eligibility, financing options, etc.
If this is the first time you are receiving a Federal Direct Loan at Villanova University as a Graduate Student, you must complete Entrance Counseling and Sign the Master Promissory Note.
Please Note: Your Federal Direct Loan will NOT disburse to your account until BOTH of these requirements are complete.
Financing Options
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a federal loan borrowed directly from the US Department of Education that you can use for your educational expenses.
- Maximum Award: $20,500 per academic year**
- Disbursements: loan funds are disbursed equally among the semesters you attend to your student account at the beginning of each semester.
View additional information on the terms and conditions on the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
**Borrower Based Loan
If you choose to take courses during the summer session and enroll in at least a half-time status, you may be eligible to borrow the Direct Unsubsidized Loan during the summer, which is referred to as a Borrower Based Direct Loan.
**Please note that if the full Borrower Based Direct Unsubsidized Loan is borrowed in the Spring semester, eligibility for the Summer semester would be exhausted. Students receive an e-mail from the Office of Financial Assistance's Loan Department to confirm their Spring request.
While the maximum amount you can borrow is $20,500, we encourage you to borrow only the amount that you will need to finance your program.
| Borrower Based Loan | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Summer 2026/Fall 2026 | $20,500 |
| Spring 2027 |
$10,250* *if the full amount fits within your cost of attendance |
**Please note that if the full Borrower Based Direct Unsubsidized Loan is borrowed in the Spring semester, eligibility for the Summer semester would be exhausted. Students receive an e-mail from the Office of Financial Assistance's Loan Department to confirm their Spring request.
While the maximum amount you can borrow is $20,500, we encourage you to borrow only the amount that you will need to finance your program.
Nelnet
For graduate students, the Villanova Tuition Payment Plan, offered through Nelnet, allows you to spread your semester's balance out over 2-3 months for a small fee. With this option, you have the freedom to use your money to earn your own interest or investment income while you pay in small installments.
For additional information, please visit My College Payment Plan.
Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, the Federal Direct PLUS Loan for graduate students will not available to new borrowers. Please check studentaid.gov for further details as they become available.
The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans to eligible graduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. View additional information on the terms and conditions on the Direct PLUS Loan.
Private Educational Loans are administered by private lenders and there are a variety of lending institutions that offer these.
The Office of Financial Assistance has selected a group of Preferred Lenders based on quality customer service, borrower benefits, and financing options. ELM Select is an external webpage where you will be able to review and compare Villanova University’s Preferred Lender information, and apply for private loans. However, if you wish to use another lender that is not on this list, you may. As a borrower, you have the right to select any lender you choose. You may want to contact the bank, savings and loan, or credit union with whom you do business.
- Students will need to conduct research to find the best private educational loan that suits their needs. Students apply directly through the lenders.
- It is suggested that you start the application process at least four weeks prior to the start of the semester to ensure the funds are disbursed in a timely manner due to numerous disclosures now required by lending institutions.
- It is suggested that you start the application process at least four weeks prior to the start of the semester to ensure the funds are disbursed in a timely manner due to numerous disclosures now required by lending institutions.
- Once approved for an alternative loan, the Office of Financial Assistance will review the loan for school certification. This process includes confirming enrollment, verifying the eligibility for the type of loan requested and the borrowing amount requested.
- Each aid applicant will receive a notice of eligibility from the Office of Financial Assistance.
- Loan funds will be disbursed in accordance with the disbursement schedule once all necessary paperwork has been completed.
The Office of Financial Assistance will continue to meet with lenders on a regular basis to examine new products, services, and benefits for our students to make sure we are providing the best options.
Notes: Due to the numerous disclosures required by the Department of Education, students need to remain in contact with their lender to ensure timely disbursement of funds. Applying for the loan late, or failure to complete required disclosures may delay your funds and possibly cause you to incur University late fees, if your bills are not paid on time.
Click here for more information on the Office of Financial Assistance Code of Conduct.
FAQs
Yes, you must submit the FAFSA in order to apply for and receive the Graduate PLUS Loan.
Yes, living expenses such as housing and food are items in the student's cost of attendance and therefore the student can receive loan funding to help cover the costs while enrolled in school.
No, you do not need to submit the FAFSA if you are not interested in receiving the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Graduate PLUS Loan. However, you will want to email our office to state that you will not be submitting the FAFSA and are not interested in the Unsubsidized Loan.