Tuition & Aid

The U.S. Department of Education offers a variety of federal grants. Grants are often called “gift aid” because they do not have to be repaid. Grants are often need-based.

For example, the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant provides grants of up to $3,752 per year to undergraduate and graduate students in eligible education programs who intend to teach in high-need fields in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families (for awards received October 1, 2018 - September 30, 2019). A service (work) obligation is required, or the grant converts to an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Students apply for this grant by filing the FAFSA and completing TEACH Grant Counseling and an Agreement to Serve.

Learn More About Federal Grants

Loans are available to assist students in meeting the cost of their education. To allow adequate processing time for bill payment and avoid late fees, students beginning classes in fall 2019 should apply for loans by June 1, 2019; students beginning classes in spring 2020 should apply by December 1, 2019. Please note: If you are attending in both fall and spring and you are applying for loans, please apply for the amount you need for the full academic year, not just one semester.

Direct Loan (DL) Program

The federal government guarantees low-cost Unsubsidized Stafford and Graduate PLUS Loans to qualified students through the Direct Loan Program. The loans are originated by Hofstra to the federal government. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually to determine their DL eligibility. Direct Loans must be certified prior to the end of the student's enrollment period.

• Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
  Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available for graduate students. Graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year (not to exceed the student's cost of attendance). A 1.062 percent loan fee is withheld from disbursement. The interest rate is fixed at 6.6 percent. Interest begins accruing on this loan during the in-school period. If a student chooses not to pay the interest while in school, the interest is capitalized and added to the outstanding principal on an annual basis. Repayment of principal and accrued interest begins six months after the student graduates, leaves school, or becomes enrolled less than half time (4.5 credits per semester at Hofstra). The aggregate limit for all Stafford Loans borrowed is $138,500.
• Federal Graduate PLUS Loans
  Federal Graduate PLUS Loans are available to graduate students to assist with educational expenses. These loans require a credit check, and the Direct Loan Program has final discretion on approval. Students must be enrolled at least half time (4.5 credits per semester at Hofstra) and meet all other federal eligibility criteria. The interest rate of the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan is fixed at 7.6 percent. A 4.264 percent loan fee is withheld from disbursement. The annual limit is the student's cost of attendance minus any other type of financial aid received. No aggregate limit exists. Repayment of principal and accrued interest begins six months after the student graduates, leaves school, or becomes enrolled less than half time (4.5 credits per semester at Hofstra), unless deferment is not selected on the application. A FAFSA must be filed and the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan annual limit must be exhausted to enable the student to apply for the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan.

Steps to Apply

• File the FAFSA after October 1 (every year) using tax information from two years prior (e.g., 2019-2020 FAFSA

requires 2017 tax information).

• Accept offered loans at my.hofstra.edu (every year).
• Complete the Direct Loan requirements for Graduate/Professional Students at studentloans.gov.
  • Entrance Counseling (one-time requirement)
  • Loan Agreement for an Unsubsidized Loan (Master Promissory Note (MPN); one-time requirement)
  • Apply for a PLUS Loan (every year)
  • Loan Agreement for a PLUS Loan (MPN; one-time requirement)

Please note that Hofstra University is required to submit loan information to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). This information is accessible to guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system as well as borrowers.

Alternative Student Loans

Alternative student loans are private loans offered by lenders to help meet educational costs. These loans usually have variable interest rates, which, unlike loans from the Direct Loan (DL) Program, are not set by the federal government. Most lenders require students with limited credit history to have a cosigner. Some alternative loans can be borrowed retroactively to cover outstanding bills. For help in choosing a lender and evaluating loan benefits, visit hofstra.edu/learnaboutloans.

For a list of alternative student loan lenders, please visit http://www.finaid.org/.

Links are provided as a general information resource for the use of visitors to the website. The links provided are maintained by their respective organizations and they are solely responsible for their content. Hofstra does not favor one link over the other, nor does Hofstra endorse or profit, in whole or in part, from any products or services offered or promoted by any of the websites whose links appear.

The Office of Student Employment offers on-campus employment options for graduate students while enrolled at the University. The office, located in the Human Resources Center on North Campus, provides services on a walk-in basis.

Employment Opportunities

Graduate student positions include graduate assistants, resident directors, and tutors. Federal Work-Study positions may also be available for eligible students who have completed a FAFSA. For all on-campus graduate student positions, applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree and be enrolled in graduate-level classes at Hofstra University. For a list of current employment opportunities, please visit hofstra.edu/jobs and click on "Student Jobs." Job listings are also posted on bulletin boards located on the second floor of the Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center, North Campus. For more information, please call the Office of Student Employment at 516-463-6782.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are part-time positions within a campus administrative office or student services area. Some assistantships offer a compensation package that includes a tuition waiver, while others offer a stipend or hourly wage. For all graduate assistantship positions, the applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree and be accepted as a matriculated student in a graduate or professional degree program at Hofstra University.

Scholarships are generally awarded by Hofstra and other organizations for academic or other merit. When you apply for admission, your academic credentials are evaluated for scholarships. As you continue through your program with the University, scholarships may be possible based on academic excellence. Students can also contact their major department chairperson or Dean's Office to inquire about scholarship opportunities. Please refer to the Scholarship Award letter for the renewal conditions for each award. If you receive a scholarship from an outside source such as a community group, business or other organization, please forward a copy of the award notice you received to Student Financial Services. The award must be accounted as part of your financial aid package. Obtaining scholarships from outside sources can require a bit of research, but there are tools to help you with that research. Certain scholarship and grant funds that you have received may be deemed taxable.  Learn more about payments to students and their taxability.

Honors, Prizes, Awards, Or Scholarships

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation or the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Funds for educational purposes may be available to individuals who have physical or mental disabilities or visual impairments that are handicaps to employment. Please contact an office near your home for further information. Contact information may be found in your telephone directory under "State Agencies."

Private Agencies

Private agencies such as religious organizations, unions, foundations, and social, civic, and cultural groups may offer scholarships to students. Please contact any organizations in which you participate to see if they offer scholarships. Please also visit fastweb.com or finaid.org for additional outside scholarship information.

Veterans GI Bill Benefits

Funds for educational purposes are available to veterans of the armed forces. Please call the veterans representative at Hofstra at 516-463-8000 for information.