Tuition and Financial Aid

Financial Aid

Students may be eligible to receive financial aid to help cover the costs of attending graduate school. Types of aid available vary based on student attendance (full or part-time) and on the student's degree status. Information about Buffalo State financial aid services can be found through the Financial Aid Office.

For other types of student support—assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships--see the Funding Opportunities section of this Web site.

Financial Aid Options for Graduate Students

Financial aid eligibility varies, but most financial assistance is awarded on the basis of financial need and on your student classification and attendance.

Financial Aid Information Sheet for Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Students (PDF, 20KB)

Student Classification: Degree-Seeking
Definition: Students who are accepted into the matriculated degree status.

Required Attendance and Financial Assistance
Half-time (6 credits) students may apply for:

  • Federal Stafford Loan
    Loan limits for independent students
    12 or more credits per semester: $19,809 (max of $8500 as subsidized)
    9 credits per semester: $17, 724 (max of $8500 as subsidized)
    6 credits per semester: $15, 627 (max of $8500 as subsidized)
  • Students not eligible for Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Full-time (12 or more credits*) students may apply for:

  • Federal Stafford Loan (see above)
  • Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
    Maximum award = $550 per academic year

Student Classification: Premajor (non-degree)
Cannot complete a degree in this status.
Definition: Students who are accepted into the premajor status (non-degree) of a degree program. Students may be accepted into this status due to deficiency in admission requirements are given a 12-month eligibility period and may apply for a Federal Stafford Loan at fifth-year undergraduate limits if they are enrolled in preparatory coursework. Preparatory coursework does not include courses taken solely to raise one's GPA to meet graduate admissions standards and does not include coursework in a graduate degree program.

Students may also be accepted due to deficiency in an admission requirement (e.g., GPA or writing ability) and given a condition to meet to reapply to the major, such as "B" grade or better in a graduate course. These students are not eligible for a Federal Stafford Loan but may qualify for alternative loans. Please see the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Required Attendance and Financial Assistance:
Half-time (6 credits) students may apply for:

  • Federal Stafford Loan
    Loan limits for independent students
    Only eligible for one 12-month period.
    12 or more credits per semester: $12,500 (max of $5,500 as subsidized)
    9 credits per semester: $12,500 (max of $5,500 as subsidized)
    6 credits per semester: $12,500 (max of $5,500 as subsidized)
  • Students not eligible for Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Student Classification:
Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification (non-degree)
Program to complete provisional/initial teaching certification requirements only.

Definition: Students who are accepted into the premajor (non-degree) status of a teaching area or a postbaccalaurate teacher certification program to complete coursework required to obtain provisional/initial teaching certification.

Required Attendance and Financial Assistance:
Half-time (6 credits)

  • Federal Stafford Loan
    Loan limits for independent students
    12 or more credits per semester: $12,500 (max of $5,500 as subsidized)
    9 credits per semester: $12,500 (max of $5,500 as subsidized)
    6 credits per semester: $12,500 (max of $5,500 as subsidized)
  • Students may be eligible for Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) if they haven't exhausted their undergraduate eligibility.

Student Classification:
Graduate Certificate, Visiting and Nondegree
Students seeking a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership and Facilitation have the same eligibility limits for Federal Stafford Loans and TAP as student pursuing master's degrees. Students enrolled in other graduate certificate programs are not currently eligible for federal or state aid. Visiting and non-degree students are not eligible for Federal Stafford Loans or TAP but may qualify for alternative loans.