Graduate student aid can be a combination of loans or scholarships. Studentaid.gov is a great information resource on federal financial aid programs, including the following brochure:

• PDF: Financial Aid for Graduate and Professional Degree Students

Get Started

At Weber, the process for applying for financial aid is the same for graduate students as for undergraduates. 

Graduates are eligible for up to $20,500 annually in Unsubsidized loans. They can also qualify for work study through the FAFSA.

Go to the Financial Aid homepage to get started on the 5 easy steps to apply for aid.

Enrollment Levels

Full time: 9+ credit hours
Half time: 5-8 credit hours

No federal assistance is available to graduate students who are enrolled less than half time (1-4 credit hours).

Graduate or Professional PLUS Loans

Graduate or professional students are eligible to borrow under the PLUS loan program up to your cost of attendance minus other estimated financial assistance. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Education. This is a loan and must be repaid.

The terms and conditions include a determination that you do not have an adverse credit history. Graduate PLUS loans have a fixed interest rate and repayment begins on the date of the last disbursement of the loan.

You must complete the FAFSA to determine your eligibility. Requests for this loan type can be made by submitting an application on studentaid.gov.

Alternative Loans

We strongly encourage ALL students who need tuition assistance or who are considering an alternative loan to explore all government and university resources first. Apply first for federal student aid by completing the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.

Alternative loans:

• Are private loans you apply for from participating banks, credit unions, and other lending institutions. These loans help supplement educational costs not covered by federal or state financial aid programs.
• Allow you to borrow additional money if you have reached your Stafford loan limit or if you no longer qualify for federal financial aid.
• Are not part of the federal student loan program.
• Have interest rates, fees, and eligibility criteria that are set by each lender; many lenders require a co-signer and credit check.
• Are loans and must be repaid.

Weber State University does not suggest or recommend specific alternative loan programs or lending institutions and encourages all interested students to perform thorough research on the various alternative loan options. As a courtesy to our students, we have provided FASTChoice and Credible , a loan comparison tool, as a resource to research the rates, eligibility requirements, and benefits of private loan lenders. This tool allows you to research the alternative loan options that will work best for you.

Before Borrowing

Ask lenders questions, such as:

• What is your lowest interest rate and fee combination, and how can I get it?
• Is the rate only for a limited period, or is it for the life of the loan?
• Is there a limit on how high the variable rate can go?
• How often is the interest rate adjusted, and how is it determined?
• What interest rate can I get on a fixed-rate loan?
• When do I begin repaying the loan?
• How long will I be repaying the loan?
• Is there a penalty for paying it off early?
• What proportion of your borrowers get the discounts you offer?
• Are your discounts guaranteed, or are they subject to change later?

Graduate Scholarships & Waivers 

 - For Utah Residents - Students may be eligible for Private Scholarships through the individual departments, or External Scholarships.  (Apply for these on  ScholarshipUniverse)

 - For Non-Resident Students - Many non-resident students qualify for a Non-Resident Graduate Waiver, which waives the non-resident portion of tuition, making their out-of-pocket amount equal to the In-State Rate.  Non-Resident students may also qualify for External Scholarships.  (Apply for all of these on ScholarshipUniverse)

Complete the ScholarshipUniverse Application each year.   https://weber.scholarshipuniverse.com/

The ScholarshipUniverse Application will be open in November 2024 for the 25-26 academic year.  Applying early is encouraged.

Take time to answer all the questions.  (This takes most students about an hour.)  This will help match students to scholarships that they qualify for.

24-48 hours after completing the questions and submitting the application, students should check back into their SU application and APPLY to all of the scholarships that they match to.  

Due to limited funding for WSU Graduate Students, students are encouraged to apply to External Scholarships as well as Weber State Scholarships.  The External Scholarships in ScholarshipUniverse have been vetted.

Other suggestions:

 - Reach out to your Department.  Some Departments will pay students to work within the department.

 - Some Employers offer a Tuition Reimbursement Program to help students advance in their company. Reach out to your HR Department to see if there are educational benefits there.

 - Get involved on campus.  (Have a passion?  Write about it.  The SignPost often pays students with scholarships if they publish their article.  Reach out to the SignPost for more information. https://www.weber.edu/Communication/scholarships.html)

Remember ABC: Always Borrow Conservatively.

If you take out an alternative loan, your lender will be required to send you, and any co-signer(s), three disclosure notices. A mandantory waiting period will also be required prior to the disbursement of your funds. The notices and the waiting period ensure that you are properly informed concerning the terms and conditions of your loan. Your lender will also require Weber State University to certify your eligibility for the loan, and if approved, your loan will be sent to the school to be disbursed to your account. Please allow 3-4 weeks for processing time.