Graduate Students
Welcome! We look forward to serving you!
Please find information regarding assistance for graduate degree programs below. Students must first apply and be accepted for admission in a degree seeking program 1 before consideration for financial assistance will be given. Not all graduate programs are eligible at this time for federal financial assistance 2. Students that are provisionally admitted into a graduate degree program will have aid awarded up until the provisional allowance of credits have been attempted, and therefore must be fully admitted beyond the allowance of credits on provisional status to continue receiving assistance.
How to apply for assistance:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Be sure to list Carson-Newman’s Title IV code as 003481. Complete the FAFSA at least two months prior to your intended enrollment date.
- You will receive an electronic notification to your Carson-Newman email account when your award is ready to review and accept or reject through your CN Connect Account. If, at the time your award is prepared, you do not have a CN email or CN Connect Account, you will be mailed an award letter that you will be required to return with signatures confirming your acceptance or rejection of aid.
- No aid is automatically renewable; continue to complete the FAFSA each academic year to be considered for aid renewal. The FAFSA is available beginning January 1st for each new upcoming academic year.
In preparing your award, we have assumed full-time enrollment (9 credit hours) in graduate courses each semester. You should contact us if your enrollment status is different than 9 credit hours, so that your award may be adjusted before classes begin. Regardless of your contact, however, the Office of Financial Assistance will adjust awards after the census date each semester to reflect exact credit hour load. Loans require at least half-time enrollment.
|
Awards |
Initial Award and Renewal Criteria |
Award Amount Per Year |
| Federal Work Study* | Must file FAFSA and prove demonstrated need with a desire to work on campus part-time. May use toward tuition or indirect cost. Application available through our Student Employment page. | Estimated earnings of $300 to $2000, based on minimum wage and the number or hours worked. Paid monthly. |
| Federal Perkins Loan* | Must prove demonstrated need. Repayable quarterly beginning nine months after being enrolled less than half-time. Must complete FAFSA. Awarded to high need students. Limited funding. Enroll at least half-time. | Amounts vary. Up to $6000 per year of graduate study. Aggregate limit $40,000 |
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan*3 | Repayment of principle begins six months after student falls below half-time enrollment. Requires Master Promissory Note (MPN), Entrance Counseling, and at least half-time enrollment. | Up to $20,500. Cannot exceed actual cost of attendance. Aggregate limit is $138,500. |
| Tennessee Teaching Scholars Program (Forgivable Loan) | Junior, Senior or Post-baccalaureate standing. Must be admitted to the Teacher Ed program. Must commit to teach in Tennessee public schools. Must submit separate application by April 15th. | Up to $4200 per year for a maximum of four years. |
| Federal TEACH Grant | Students enrolled in an eligible program meeting the academic qualifications, who intend to teach in a high-need subject area at schools that serve students from low-income familes. Requires teaching obligation or grant converts to an unsubsidized loan, retroactive with interest. | Up to $4,000 per year for full-time enrollment; prorated awards for less than full-time |
| BASE- TN | Program that provides limited financial support for persons who meet the eligibility criteria and desire to earn an initial Tennessee teacher license in special education or an endorsement in special education. Deadlines: Fall- August 1st; Spring - December 15th; Summer- May 1st |
Funds partial tuition and books-
Funding for this program ends with the 12-13 year. |
* Federal Programs are limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in an eligible program making satisfactory progress. In-school deferment status on loans required at least half-time attendance.
1 Graduate certificate programs are currently not eligible for federal financial assistance.
2 Master of Arts in Applied Theology (MAAT) is currently not eligible for federal financial assistance. Additionally. If you are enrolling in this programs, you may wish to apply for private alternative loan funding or arrange a payment plan with the Treasurer's Office/Student Accounts
3 Effective July 1, 2012 graduate students are no longer eilgible for subsidies in the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program.