Federal Financial Aid Opportunities

The federal government makes loans available to borrowers who meet the basic eligibility.  Federal loans can be borrowed in amounts enough to cover tuition, fees, and living expenses. There is no credit review for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan which is issued in iterations of $20,500 per academic year. The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan is constrained only by the cost of attendance, and you can be approved in amounts sufficient to cover remaining balances so long as your credit history does not contain certain adverse history. 

Most Penn GSE students borrow Federal Direct, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS, or private loans to fund their education. To be considered for federal loans, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The University of Pennsylvania institutional code is 003378.

Your FAFSA information will be sent to the University's Student Financial Services office (SFS). If you have questions, you may contact SFS at (215) 898-1988 or sfsmail@pobox.upenn.edu.

Federal Direct Loans

Federal Direct Loans are offered by the U.S. Department of Education to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Direct Loan payments are deferred while enrolled at least half-time but accrue during the in-school period. 

Federal Direct GradPLUS Loan

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans are for eligible U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled at least half-time in a graduate degree program. One may borrow up to your cost-of-attendance budget less any other aid. This loan requires that you pass a basic credit review conducted by the Department of Education. 

The FAFSA is a required application for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents who are Interested in participating in federal aid programs. Students can file a FAFSA online as early as October 1 each year. All graduate students are ‘Independent’ and parents' information is NOT needed. Students beginning their program in the summer should file two FAFSAs: One for the prior academic year and one for the upcoming academic year. The University of Pennsylvania institutional code is 003378. 

For Teachers

If you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500 on your Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Visit the Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness page. 

For Public Service

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. 

Federal Work-study is a need-based aid program where the Department of Education subsidizes student wages earned at on-campus jobs. Work-study funds are not realized unless earned through student employment. Work-Study replaces student loan eligibility dollar-for-dollar, and many students prefer to receive a larger refund up-front rather than earning wages over the year; therefore, it is not automatically awarded. Most domestic students are eligible to work on-campus with or without federal work-study funding. After you accept your offer of admission, you will receive a Penn Key and be able to search available on-campus jobs via the Penn Student Employment website. Jobs for the upcoming fall semester are posted in July. Email finaid@gse.upenn.edu after you matriculate if you wish to be considered for federal work-study.