Consumer Information
The consumer information page contains important resources for prospective and current GW students and to assist the GW community in finding important institutional information.
The GW SMHS Office of Financial Aid administers a variety of institutional scholarships, need-based grants, and loans. Your aid package may include different types of financial aid funds. The information in this section describes the institutional, federal, and alternative types of aid available.
In no case may your aid package exceed the total Cost of Attendance for your enrollment period, including all sources of GW institutional aid, federal/commercial Loans, and any/all outside sources of aid.
- FEDERAL DIRECT EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM, TITLE IV LOANS
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FEDERAL DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN
- Department of Education (ED) Title IV Program.
- Interest on the loan accrues while the borrower is in school.
- Borrower must complete a Master Promissory Note
- Loan will have fixed interest rates of 7.94% (if disbursed after 07/01/25 and before 07/01/26).
- Students may borrow a maximum of $20,500 per nine-month academic year in the PA Program.
- Students in the PA/MPH Program may borrow up to $33,000 per nine-month period. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in the MPH program to be eligible for extended loan limits.
- The origination fee on Unsubsidized Loans is currently 1.057%.
- Eligible for forbearance options.
- Federal Entrance Counseling (first time borrowers) and Exit Counseling are mandatory.
FEDERAL DIRECT GRADUATE PLUS LOAN FOR STUDENTS:
- Department of Education (ED) Title IV Program.
- Interest on the loan accrues while the borrower is in school.
- Borrower must complete a Master Promissory Note.
- Credit-based loan, the borrower's credit report will be pulled resulting in a "hard hit" to the credit score
- Loans made on or after July 1, 2025, have a fixed interest rate of 8.94% (if disbursed after 07/01/25 and before 07/01/26).
- Students may borrow up to the full Cost of Attendance, less other aid, each year.
- The origination fee is 4.228% as of October 1, 2024.
- Eligible for forbearance options.
- Entrance Counseling (first time borrowers) and Exit Counseling are mandatory.
- PRIVATE STUDENT LOANS
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Private alternative (otherwise known as private or commercial) loans are offered by many private banks or lenders and are typically borrowed for education expenses not covered by other sources of financial aid. Students should carefully review loan terms and consider how private student loans will affect their credit before borrowing. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize all of their federal student loan eligibility before seeking an alternative student loan:
Annual alternative loan amounts are limited to a student's total Cost of Attendance less other financial aid received. Alternative loans are unsubsidized and may carry a fixed or variable interest rate. Interest rates are determined by the lending institution and may change as often as every 30 days and may have no interest rate cap. Alternative loan approval is based upon the student's credit history. Credit history may also affect the interest rate. Each alternative loan lender has their own credit criteria, application process, and maximum lifetime borrowing limits.
Students who intend to apply for an alternative loan or to have a Student Accounts Hold lifted for advance registration must start the application process at least four weeks prior to the date on which they are scheduled to register for the upcoming semester. Several steps must be completed before the lender will provide the SMHS Office of Financial Aid with the loan certification request. No action will be taken to release a ‘hold" until funds have been received from the lender.
When applying for an alternative loan, borrowers should be sure to follow the instructions from the lender carefully. These instructions will guide borrowers step-by-step through the process. Please note that due to recent changes in federal regulations, the SMHS Office of Financial Aid is now allowed to offer recommendations on any lending program; please see GW's Student Loan Code of Conduct. It is recommended that students review the Private Student Loan Counseling Checklist prior to applying for a Private Loan.
It is wise for borrowers to compare loan terms among the different lenders and products to find the loan option that best suits their needs. Borrowers can use the University's preferred lender list on ELMSelect. An internet search for “Private Alternative Health Sciences Student Loans” also provides a valuable starting point for both learning about the terms of the loans and reviewing the products available from various lending institutions. Borrowers who have a question about the terms of a private loan, or do not understand what a lender is asking on an application, please contact the SMHS Office of Financial Aid; we are happy to assist borrowers in understanding this information.
Students who are interested in utilizing alternative loans must submit the Private Loan Request form (please see PA Program Forms page). The Office of Financial Aid will certify private alternative loan applications submitted to the SMHS Office of Financial Aid via school code 001444-00.
Borrowers should apply at least four weeks prior to the start of the semester to allow time for processing; please allow 5-7 business days for processing certification request from lenders. Disbursements are scheduled for the 1st week of classes each semester, however, it may take up to ten days for loans to be disbursed if requested after the term begins. Loans are disbursed to a student's eBill and any credit balance will be returned to the student by the Student Accounts team.
- INSTITUTIONAL AND EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS
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The GW PA program offers a limited number of need-based and merit based scholarships. These renewable scholarships require students to maintain a 3.0 GPA as well as good academic and professionalism standing.
External Sources:
PA Student Scholarships - PA Foundation (pa-foundation.org)