Graduate Catalog — Financial Aid
Through UMass Boston's Office of Financial Aid Services, loans and part-time employment are available to degree-seeking graduate students entering the university in the fall and spring.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as funds are limited. Once the application for financial aid is submitted, each applicant is considered for all forms of aid available through the Office of Financial Aid Services.
All eligible students have the right to apply for financial aid and must be considered fairly and equally, without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
A complete list of other student rights and responsibilities in connection with financial aid may be found in the “Regulations, Procedures, and Degree Requirements” section of this publication.
Application Procedures
- The applicant must submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. FAFSA forms are used to determine eligibility for Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Stafford Loans, and Federal Work-Study awards. FAFSA forms may be obtained from the One Stop Student Service Center or from the applicant's current institution's financial aid office. The FAFSA can also be completed on line at the FAFSA web site: www.FAFSA.ed.gov. General information about federal government financial aid programs can be found at another web site:
http://www.ed.gov/studentaid. Mail the completed FAFSA to the US Department of Education's Central Processing Servicer so a valid Expected Family Contribution (EFC) may be calculated and forwarded to UMass Boston's Office of Financial Aid Services. - The applicant may be required to complete and submit a verification form and supporting income and tax forms. If so, the form will be mailed to the applicant by the Office of Financial Aid Services. Verification worksheets are available to be downloaded on the department's web site.
- The Office of Financial Aid Services may require additional forms; these may include, but are not limited to, proof of citizenship status, social security number verification, and selective service registration.
Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA so that it may be processed by the priority date of March 1 for the fall semester or November 15 for the spring semester. Applications processed after those dates are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. All awards are made on the basis of available funds.
How Awards are Made
The Office of Financial Aid Services uses the following formula to determine a student's financial need:
Minus
Equals
Estimated cost of attendance is a projection of a typical student's school and living expenses for a nine-month period. The office establishes such estimates each year in several categories (according to students' living situations) and reviews them at intervals. The amount of student and/or family contribution, based on the information provided by a student's FAFSA, is determined by using federal methodology. Financial aid is then awarded in “packages,” which may consist of loans, campus-based funds, and part-time job opportunities. In awarding a financial aid package, the Office of Financial Aid Services cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet a student's total “need” or that it can offer the particular kind of aid desired by the student.
Financial aid checks may not always be available at the beginning of the semester; students should be prepared to cover the costs of living expenses and educational costs during the first several weeks of a term through savings, employment, or other means.
Federal Funding Sources
Registered degree-seeking students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States may be eligible to receive aid through one or more of the following federal aid programs:
- Federal Perkins Loans bear a 5% interest rate. Students begin to repay Perkins Loans six to nine months after graduation, withdrawal, or enrollment for fewer than three academic credits in any given semester.
- Through the Federal Work-Study Program (FWS), job opportunities are available on and off campus during the academic year and summer; students work to earn FWS funds.
- Federal Stafford Loans are offered to graduate students enrolled for six or more credits at a variable interest rate not to exceed 8.25 percent. Students may use Federal Stafford Loans to supplement other financial aid. Repayment of Stafford loans begins six months after graduation, withdrawal, or enrollment for fewer than six academic credits in any given semester.
Other Funding Sources
Students may be eligible for aid from sources other than those listed above. Information is available at UMass Boston's Office for Merit-Based Scholarships, in public libraries, and from the Higher Education Information Center at 666 Boylston Street in Boston.
Student Employment
As a division of Financial Aid Services, the Office of Student Employment oversees several employment programs serving multiple goals. Positions listed through the office are located both on and off campus. Student employees develop work experience, often directly related to their educational pursuits, while financing their education through employment. As earnings defray educational expenses, students develop marketable skills and experience for today's competitive job market.
All enrolled students at UMass Boston are eligible to work on campus; however, not every student is eligible for every type of job. Each student employment program has specific restrictions. The following descriptions can help individuals determine which programs may be appropriate for them:
Institutional (CC) Work-Study: All active students at UMass Boston are eligible to work on campus through the Institutional (CC) work program.
Federal Work-Study (FWS): The FWS Program is limited to students who have been awarded FWS through the FAFSA. Positions are located on campus and through local contracted non-profit agencies. The program places an emphasis on community service opportunities; students with FWS eligibility are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities. The America Reads program, another emphasis within FWS, is designed to provide opportunities for students to serve as reading tutors.
Part-time Job Program: The part-time job program is a listing of off-campus work opportunities. Positions may be part-time or seasonal in nature, and wages are paid by the employer. Students must be eligible to work off-campus to participate in this program (the visa status of international students may limit their ability to participate in this program). These positions are listed on the web at: www.umb.edu/student_life_and_services/sehs/student_employment.html
See the “Facilities and Services” section of this publication for information on the Office of Student Housing Services.
Information and Correspondence
Students who have questions about financial aid or who wish to obtain a FAFSA or to submit documents supporting an application for aid should use the following address and telephone number:
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393
617.287.6300
: 617.287.6335
: bos.finaid@umb.edu
Students are strongly advised to keep copies of all documents and correspondence regarding financial aid submitted to the university or elsewhere.