FAFSA for Graduate School

Grants are akin to scholarships but have a few distinct variations. While scholarships are primarily awarded on merit by rewarding exemplary academic achievements or other aspects of a student’s life (such as sports or community service), grants are generally need-based and seldom have anything to do with academic or extracurricular performance.

Most grants tend to factor in ethnicity, community, socio-economic status, gender, and student background. For example, grants could be awarded to only African American students, Female students, students from military families, or those from a particular community. Some grants are even specific to a college or university.

Grants are considered “free money” since they do not have to be paid back and can be used for any educational expense a student has to bear.

A plethora of grants are available from various sources. Therefore, it is always advisable to first check with the university one is applying to and understand what grants, scholarships, loans, or other forms of aid may be offered. A FAFSA graduate school application presents an excellent way to determine what aid a student qualifies for.

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It helps schools determine eligibility for federal aid and some state or institutional aid; it is not itself a loan or a promise of funding. Graduate students may qualify for Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Federal Work-Study, subject to the applicable rules and school participation.

For Direct Unsubsidized Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 and before July 1, 2027, the fixed graduate/professional interest rate is 8.07%. For Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed in that same period, the fixed rate is 9.07%; graduate/professional borrowers can access Grad PLUS only if they qualify for the limited exception described below. Existing loans retain the fixed rate applicable to their own first-disbursement period. These are not announced rates for loans first disbursed in 2027–28.

For borrowers subject to the rules effective July 1, 2026, the graduate-category Direct Unsubsidized limit is $20,500 per academic year and $100,000 in aggregate. The professional-category limits are $50,000 per academic year and $200,000 in aggregate. The school determines which category applies to the program. Annual limits are reduced for less-than-full-time enrollment, and additional aggregate, lifetime, cost-of-attendance and other-aid limits can restrict the actual loan amount. Direct Unsubsidized Loans do not require demonstrated financial need.

New Grad PLUS borrowing is unavailable outside the limited exception. A continuing borrower may qualify if enrolled in the program at the school as of June 30, 2026 and a Direct Loan for that program was disbursed before July 1, 2026. The exception lasts for the shorter of three academic years or the remaining published program length, subject to maintaining eligibility in that program. Borrowers who qualify can continue Grad PLUS up to cost of attendance minus other financial assistance. The school’s financial aid office must confirm individual eligibility, including permitted leave or teach-out situations.

Sources: Federal Student Aid’s 2026–27 Direct Loan interest-rate announcement, loan-limit FAQ and less-than-full-time enrollment FAQ.

Graduate-level applicants are independent for FAFSA purposes, so they provide their own financial information and any required spouse information rather than parent information. Complete the form for the award year covering your attendance.

Graduate students are not eligible for Direct Subsidized Loans. Interest on Direct Unsubsidized Loans accrues while the borrower is in school. Graduate and professional borrowing limits and Grad PLUS access depend on the current rules and any limited exception described above. Federal Pell Grants and FSEOG are primarily undergraduate aid programs, rather than standard funding for graduate degrees.

Federal aid eligibility depends on the applicable federal requirements, an eligible program at a participating school, and satisfactory academic progress. Direct Loans require at least half-time enrollment; annual amounts are reduced for less-than-full-time enrollment under the applicable rules. Financial need is required for some aid, including Federal Work-Study, but not for Direct Unsubsidized Loans.

Provide all required FAFSA information, signatures, and contributor consent and approval for IRS tax-data transfer. Selective Service registration and drug-conviction history are no longer conditions for Title IV federal-aid eligibility. Your school determines your actual aid eligibility and remaining borrowing capacity.

There is no single amount awarded simply for submitting a FAFSA. The school determines your aid package using the Student Aid Index (SAI), cost of attendance, enrollment status, other aid, program eligibility and remaining loan limits. The SAI is an eligibility index; it is not an aid award or a bill. For graduate borrowing, use the current loan rules described above and review the school’s actual aid offer.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the award year covering your attendance. Applying is free. Start at the official FAFSA application page and select the appropriate form; the 2026–27 and 2027–28 forms serve different attendance periods. Graduate students use the same FAFSA application, with graduate-level dependency and aid rules.

Note: Submit online by 11:59 p.m. Central time on the applicable federal deadline. State and school priority deadlines can be earlier, and some aid is limited. Your school must have your correct, complete information by the applicable enrollment deadline. For summer attendance, ask the school which award-year form to use. The 2027–28 form is available now.

Have your StudentAid.gov account, identifying information, required contributor email addresses, the tax information for the award year shown above, current reportable asset information, any requested child-support information, and your school list ready. Each required contributor must provide the requested information, consent and approval for IRS tax-data transfer, and a signature. Graduate-level applicants are independent for FAFSA purposes and do not provide parent information; spouse information may be required.

Complete the FAFSA Online

1. Create or sign in to your StudentAid.gov account. Each required contributor uses their own account.
2. Choose the award-year form matching your attendance and identify your expected graduate-level study accurately.
3. Answer the personal and financial questions. Provide consent and approval for IRS tax-data transfer; answer any remaining tax and asset questions as instructed.
4. Invite a spouse if the form requires a spouse contributor. Each required contributor completes and signs their own section; graduate-level applicants do not add parent contributors.
5. Add the schools you are considering. The online form allows up to 20 schools, and you must list at least one to submit.
6. Review all answers, obtain all required signatures and submit. Review your FAFSA Submission Summary, correct errors and respond to school requests.

If you need a paper application, use the official printable form for your award year: 2026–27 or 2027–28. Follow that form’s signature, mailing and receipt instructions. The paper form permits ten schools; the online form permits twenty. Filing a FAFSA does not require you to accept a loan.

Sources: Federal Student Aid FAFSA application instructions, the 2026–27 and 2027–28 forms, and FAFSA Checklist.