Types of Aid Available
Federal Direct Loan
Most students take advantage of the Federal Direct Student Loan program. This program allows students to borrow loan funds at a low interest rate while in school and offers a 6 month grace period for repayment after graduation. Graduate students enrolled in at least four credit hours per term are eligible for $20,500 in funding through Direct Loans for each academic year. Direct Loans at the graduate level gain interest at 6.8%.*
*Starting July 1, 2012, graduate students are no longer eligible for Subsidized Stafford Loans. Read more about the Budget Control Act (BCA) 2011 Summary (PDF)
Federal Work Study
The Seattle School participates in the Federal Work Study Program, which funds 4,242 hours of work for students in positions on campus and in our community outreach site each year. These are paid positions that provide students with funds to cover the cost of tuition and living expenses while gaining robust work experience in a higher education institution. Positions are available in the library, bookstore, front desk, office of students and alumni, admissions, academic services and conferences. Open positions are announced in the fall of each academic year in the school newsletter.
Scholarships
Generous funding from partners of The Seattle School allows us to keep our operating costs and tuition low, which saves each student approximately $4,000 over the course of their degree program. In addition to this grant, The Seattle School awards nearly $50,000 in internal scholarships each year. Scholarship applications are posted each spring and the deadline to submit to the Office of Students Financial Services is June 15. Scholarship applicants are notified by The Scholarship Committee by August 1. To learn more about our available scholarships, please visit our Scholarships page.
In addition to scholarships offered by The Seattle School we encourage students to pursue scholarships from your local community and affiliations. There is outside funding available to graduate students who are willing to look around and make the effort to apply.
Payment Plans
Tuition for the term is due the first day of classes. If you plan to pay in full you can simply drop a check into the payment box (located outside the Student Financial Services office on the 4th Floor).
Recognizing that paying in full is not an option for many students, The Seattle School offers a payment plan for those desiring to cover some of their education costs out of pocket. Your student account balance (for the term) is divided into four equal payments, due on the 15th of each month.
When students want to keep their student loan debt as low as possible some will cover their education costs by setting up a payment plan for whatever amount they can afford to pay each month and using their loan funding to cover the difference.
There is a $50 fee to enroll in the payment plan and late fees are assessed at 1% per months on the remainder of the balance. To enroll in the payment plan please complete and return the Payment Plan Application to the Office of Student Financial Services.
Direct Graduate PLUS loans
The Direct Loan Program offers additional funding beyond the $20,500 each graduate student is eligible for through PLUS loans. PLUS loans are credit based, require an origination fee of 3% and have a higher interest rate (7.9%). We are committed to ensuring that students keep their borrowing to a minimum. Advising is required prior to applying for a PLUS loan and is recommended only as a last resort.