Need Based Financial Aid
One major source of funding is via "need based" financial aid . This may be in the form of grants (which do not have to be repaid) and loans (which must eventually be re-paid after leaving the university). Need-based financial aid is available to U.S. citizens. Students must demonstrate financial need through the federal government's FAFSA system.
Need-based aid is typically determined and funded by the federal government and, thus, requires that applicants be certified by the University as having income and asset levels that fall within certain limitations. Current federal regulations classify virtually all graduate students as independent of parental support unless they are claimed as dependents on their parents' federal income tax return. For independent graduate students, parental income is not considered in determining need and eligibility for federal financial aid programs. For people who have been working, salary in the year before they enter graduate school is the basis for determining financial need. A percentage of that salary has to be considered as an asset available to the student to pay for graduate school expenses.
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education Website provides descriptions of the various types of national programs that are offered for graduate and professional students. Or you may call the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll free at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) to obtain copies of information that you need.
A basic resource about financial aid is the Department of Education publication, The Student Guide. This free booklet offers general information on student eligibility, financial need, dependency status, and how to apply.