Apply For Aid
Students who are enrolled at least half time, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who meet the federal criteria for need are eligible for Stafford Loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program and Federal Work Study Aid.
Application Process
The application process for financial aid can be lengthy and can take up to two months. Students who anticipate a need to supplement their financial resources through loans or college work-study employment must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. There are many steps involved that must be completed by both the school and the student applying. It is important to keep track of all steps in order to avoid delays in the disbursement of financial aid.
- Complete a FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov using the code E00165 in January or immediately after completing your taxes. Completing the FAFSA is not a contract and does not mean that you have to accept the aid eligible for. You can complete a FAFSA at any time. While there is no deadline, we encourage students to apply as early as possible to avoid a delay in loan processing.
- Complete and send the Stafford Loan Authorization Form (pdf) to the Graduate School Financial Aid Office if applying for a Stafford loan. This form signifies to the Graduate School that you would like to be considered for a Stafford loan. Without this form, you will not be considered.
- When completing the Stafford Loan Authorization Form, please select a lender. You can obtain information about Duke's preferred lenders is available.
- If interested in Work Study funding, please contact the Graduate School Financial Aid Office for details. In order to qualify for a work-study allocation, a student must complete the FAFSA and have been determined to have financial need. While no form exists to request work study funding, you must make the financial aid office aware of your interest to be considered for funding.
- After submitting the proper application materials, the Graduate School will send you an outline of your student budget and loan eligibility (including Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans and Graduate PLUS loans) based on your financial need using the information you submitted on the FAFSA form earlier. For fall loans, the award letter will be sent in July.
- Sign a Federal Stafford master promissory note with your chosen lender.
- Complete an "entrance interview" on-line. Students borrowing for the first time from Duke are required to complete the loan entrance counseling on line at www.mappingyourfuture.org. Complete the Stafford/Perkins Combined Loan Entrance Counseling to meet Duke's requirement. Loans will not be processed until the loan counseling is complete and the school receives the confirmation number from mapping your future.
- Loans are disbursed no sooner than 10 days before the start of the semester, provided all paperwork has been completed.
- Toward the end of your program, complete an "exit interview" at www.mappingyourfuture.org . The Financial Aid office will send out a reminder of this requirement.