Financial Aid and Scholarships

Make sure to stay on top of all the deadlines associated with FAFSA and USD’s financial aid timeline. Visit One Stop in the University Center, or go to their website for more information.

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are forms needed to be filled out to apply for federal grants and loans. Learn more here: sandiego.edu/one-stop/forms/ financial-aid.php

▪ Graduate deadlines: sandiego.edu/ one-stop/forms/financial-aid. php#content-applications

▪ Guide for graduate aid applications: sandiego.edu/one-stop/financialaid/grad-guide-to-applying.php

▪ Understanding financial aid for graduate students: vimeo. com/279921584

Expected Family Contribution (EFC): An amount determined by financial aid based on personal information including your taxed and untaxed income, assets, benefits, and family size.

Appeal (FAFSA): If a student has a change in financial circumstances there are times the financial aid eligibility can be reconsidered. https://usd.tfaforms.net/219231

▪ Form M is a request for an increase in the budget. It can be submitted anytime, but there must be a FAFSA to submit an appeal. This form needs to be updated when the upcoming application cycle form posts. https://www.sandiego.edu/ one-stop/financial-aid/appealtypes

Disbursement: When the source(s) of your financial aid pays the university the amount you were awarded towards your semester tuition and fees.

One Stop: The One Stop Student Center assists students with financial aid, student accounts and registration questions. sandiego.edu/one-stop /

Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid comes in many forms, with some aid based on your work and merits, and some aid based on your FAFSA application. Learn about the different types of loans you are eligible for and be mindful of the ones you accept. After you graduate, you will have to pay back your loans at different interest rates.

Direct subsidized loan: The Department of Education will cover the interest on the loan. 6 credit hour minimum to apply.

Direct unsubsidized loan: The Department of Education will not cover the interest of the loan, and the loan may accumulate interest if left unpaid.

Private student loan: Financial Aid provided by private lenders (i.e. not state or federally funded organizations)

University grant: University grants are funds awarded to students that do not need to be repaid. Funds are awarded by the university based on student need and FAFSA information. Students must meet certain eligibility criteria to receive funds. sandiego. edu/one-stop/financial-aid/ graduate-students.php

Costs of Enrollment

You may not be enrolled in the same amount of units every semester, and it is important to understand how that will change the cost of each semester.

▪ Tuition costs will vary based on your program of study

▪ Students must receive permission to take more than 18 units

▪ Full-Time Enrollment: Being enrolled in 9 credits or more

▪ Part-Time Enrollment: Being enrolled in 4.5-8 units

▪ Intersession: Short periods during winter and summer breaks when students may enroll in additional classes to assist with degree completion. Academic Calendar 2023-2 4

▪ Satisfactory Academic Progress: There are federally mandated academic requirements that must be met when a student receives financial aid so that students can maintain eligibility for financial aid in the next academic year. sandiego.edu/financialaid/ documents/SAPPolicy.pdf

Fees: Costs in addition to tuition:

▪ Student wellness fee

▪ Student association fee

▪ Student Life Pavilion fee

On-campus Employment and GAships

On-Campus Employment sandiego. edu/soles/financial-aid/campusemployment.php

Auxiliary Services sandiego.edu/ auxiliary/employment.php

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Graduate Assistantships sandiego.edu/soles/academics/ ma-higher-education-leadership/ assistantships.php

Mulvaney Center Graduate Assistants sandiego.edu/mccasa/communityengagement/youth/graduatestudents.php

Off-campus GAships

MAHEL Off-Campus Housing Assistantships: sandiego.edu/ soles/leadership-studies/mahigher-education-leadership/ assistantships.php#offcampus