Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
To qualify for the Tuition Assistance Program grant, graduate students must be legal residents of New York State for at least one year, be registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, and be enrolled in a program leading to a degree. The amount of the TAP award is based on the prior year New York Net Taxable family income. During Summer Session, students can be registered for a minimum of 6 credit hours distributed among all summer sessions to potentially qualify for TAP. Graduate assistants may be eligible for a full-time TAP award as long as they are registered for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester. Students should note that TAP awards will not be refunded to graduate assistants whose tuition charges have been waived by SUNY Fredonia.
Federal Stafford Student Loan Program
The Federal Stafford Student Loan Program consists of the Subsidized Stafford Loan and the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Applicants for the Stafford Loan program must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov using our SUNY Fredonia Federal School Code of 002844 in order to release their FAFSA data to Fredonia.
A student must be registered for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester to qualify, and must be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. Upon receipt of the FAFSA data from the Federal Central Processor, the SUNY Fredonia Financial Aid Office determines loan eligibility, and the New York State Higher Education Services Corp. (NYSHESC) provides an online Master Promissory Note for first-time loan borrowers at www.hesc.com.
The primary differences between Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans:
Subsidized: Interest is paid by the federal government during in-school, grace and deferment periods and is based on need.
Unsubsidized: Interest is paid by the student during in-school, grace and deferment periods and can be used to replace expected family contribution.
The Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are similar in the following ways:
- Fixed Interest Rate - contact the Financial Aid Office for current rates.
- Repayment on principal begins six months after enrollment drops below 6 credit hours per semester.
Annual maximums for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans combined are $20,500 for graduate students. The maximum amount that may be awarded to each student is $138,500 for undergraduate and graduate work combined.
Electronic Funds Transfer
Loan approvals are sent electronically by the lender to SUNY Fredonia in two separate disbursements and will reflect the deduction of the 3 percent origination fee. The first disbursement normally arrives at the Office of Student Accounts one to two weeks after the loan approval during the academic year. The second disbursement is made at the midpoint of the loan period; the midpoint of the loan period occurs for the majority of students during the first two weeks of the spring semester.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
To be eligible for the Graduate PLUS Loan you must be a graduate student enrolled at least half-time, be credit-worthy, and have exhausted the maximum amount in Stafford loans. There are no set limits for Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, but you may not borrow more than the cost of education minus any other financial aid received. If you are found to have an adverse credit history, you may still borrow a Graduate PLUS Loan if you get an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the Direct PLUS Loan if you do not repay the loan.
The interest rate is fixed at 7.9%. There is an origination fee of 4%. However, there is an up-front interest rebate of 1.5%. The Up-front Interest Rebate percentage is the amount given to borrowers after the Origination Fee has been deducted from each loan disbursed. Students must make all of the first 12 required monthly payments on time or the rebate amount will be added back to the principal balance of the loan.
To apply for the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, please visit http://www.fredonia.edu/finaid/gradplus.asp.
Good Academic Standing Requirements and Receipt of Graduate Financial Aid
Requirements
State and federal regulations require that all financial aid recipients maintain program pursuit and make satisfactory academic progress toward completion of degree program requirements (referred to as Good Academic Standing). The Financial Aid Office at SUNY Fredonia evaluates student aid recipient progress according to state requirements for TAP at the completion of each semester. The Financial Aid Office at SUNY Fredonia evaluates progress according to federal requirements for Stafford and Graduate PLUS loans at the completion of the academic year. Students should refer to the chart below.
Good Academic Standing Chart for Graduate Financial Aid
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Before being certified for this payment
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1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
Percentage of attempted credit hours that must be completed with a passing/ failing grade
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0
|
100%
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100%
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100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
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100%
|
|
Must have accrued at least this many total credits
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0
|
6
|
12
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21
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30
|
45
|
60
|
75
|
|
Maintain at least this Grade Point Average
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0
|
2.0
|
2.50
|
2.75
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3.00
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3.00
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3.00
|
3.00
|
Notification Procedure: The Financial Aid Office will notify the student between two and four weeks after the conclusion of each semester if Good Academic Standing Requirements were not met while the student received federal and/or state aid. The letter will inform the student of the loss of aid for the semester immediately following the one in which program pursuit and satisfactory academic progress were not met and will also apprise the student of the waiver procedure to follow if the student feels financial aid should be reinstated.
Waiver Procedure: A waiver to reinstate state aid (TAP) is available only once during graduate study. A request to reinstate federal aid may be granted only if exceptional circumstances can be documented. Waivers and reinstatement of aid are not automatic. They are approved only if in the best interest of the student and only if unusual circumstances (i.e. family illness or death, personal illness, personal emotional disturbances, change(s) in educational objective) prevented the student from meeting the expected criteria.
Graduate Opportunity Tuition Waiver
The Graduate Opportunity Waiver Program provides a full waiver of tuition to former EOP, SEEK, or HEOP students who are accepted or enrolled as full-time students in a graduate degree program. To apply, students should submit proof that they were enrolled as undergraduates through one of the special admission programs named. Students should contact any EOP or HEOP office for information.
Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
The State of New York, through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, provides financial assistance for those students who qualify under prescribed conditions. For additional information interested persons should contact the nearest Rehabilitation Office.
Veterans Administration Educational Benefits
Those veterans or dependents who are, or feel they are, eligible for federal financial assistance through the Veterans Administration should contact the Coordinator, Office of Veterans Affairs, in Nixon Hall at (716) 673-3423 or email Veteran.Affairs@fredonia.edu. Students are urged to begin their VA paperwork before the beginning of the school term in order to hasten processing. To further facilitate the start of benefits, the veteran, or their dependents who intend to utilize VA educational entitlements, should present pertinent data, such as the Social Security number, VA claim number, Certificate of Eligibility, DD214 Member 4 copy, and any other VA claim information.
The Veteran Affairs office is staffed by the coordinator and two veteran students who provide routine certification of enrollments. The staff also monitors student progress, and is available for information and referral for problems that might arise. Policy among various administrative offices, as it relates to VA recipients, is also coordinated through the Veteran Affairs office. The coordinator is in liaison with the Regional Office in Buffalo, N.Y., for those situations that might need special attention.
Assistantships/Fellowships
Assistantships: Graduate, research, and teaching assistantships are available to highly qualified graduate students in many academic departments. Graduate assistants normally carry a 6 to 9 credit hour per semester course load and perform duties in laboratories, lecture halls, offices, and classrooms. The stipends for fully-funded assistantships generally begin at $6,700, plus any negotiated increases, for the academic year in addition to waiver of tuition in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Applicants for academic assistantships should indicate their interest on the graduate application form. Information about current openings, benefits, and application procedures may be found on the Graduate Studies Graduate Assistant website at http://www.fredonia.edu/gradstudies/current/gradasst.asp.