Post-Bacc Sources of Aid

The GW SMHS Office of Financial Aid administers a variety of institutional scholarships, need-based grants, and loans that are awarded on the basis of merit or financial need. A student's aid package may include different types of financial aid funds. The sections on this page describe the institutional, federal, and alternative types of aid available.

In no case may a student's aid package exceed the total Cost of Attendance for an enrollment period, including all sources of GW institutional aid, federal/private loans, and any/all outside sources of aid.

FEDERAL DIRECT EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM, TITLE IV LOANS

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

  • Department of Education (ED) Title IV Program.
  • Interest accrues on Unsubsidized loans while borrower is in school.
  • Borrower must complete a Master Promissory Note.
  • Federal  will have fixed interest rates of 6.39% (if disbursed after 07/01/25 and before 07/01/26).
  • You may borrow a maximum of $7,500 per twelve-month academic year in the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medicine program as a dependent student.
  • You may borrow a maximum of $12,500 per twelve-month academic year in the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medicine program as an independent student.
  • Students must be enrolled in at least half-time hours in the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medicine program to be eligible for loans.
  • The origination fee is 1.057%.​ This is subject to change on October 1, 2025.
  • Eligible for forbearance options
  • Federal Entrance Counseling (first time borrowers) and Exit Counseling are mandatory

Loan Amounts: 

To determine dependency status, please review the requirements on studentaid.gov here: Am I Dependent or Independent When I Fill Out the FAFSA® Form? (studentaid.gov)

Student Status Subsidized Unsubsidized Total
Dependent $5,500 $2,000 $7,500
Dependent w/ Parent PLUS Denial $5,500 $7,000 $12,500
Independent $5,500 $7,000 $12,500

 

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

  • Eligibility for those are: the biological or adoptive parent (or in some cases, the stepparent) of a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school
  • Department of Education (ED) Title IV Program.
  • Interest on loan accrues on Unsubsidized while the borrower is in school.
  • Borrower must complete a Master Promissory Note
  • For Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2025, and before July 1, 2026, the interest rate is 8.94%. This is a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan.
  • The origination fee is 4.228%.​ This is subject to change on October 1, 2025.
  • Eligible for deferment while the dependent student is in school at the time of application. Forbearance options are available during repayment.
  • Federal Entrance Counseling (first-time borrowers) and Exit Counseling are mandatory.
  • Loan Amount: The maximum PLUS loan amount you can borrow is the cost of attendance at the school your child will attend minus any other financial assistance your child receives.** The cost of attendance is determined by the school. 

**Please note that as of July 01, 2026, Parent PLUS Loan borrowers will be subject to a cap of $20,000 in loan borrowing per academic year after the dependent student has accepted all direct subsidized and/or unsubsidized federal loans offered. Parent PLUS borrowers will be capped at $65,000 in total lifetime borrowing per dependent student.

PRIVATE STUDENT LOANS

Private alternative (otherwise known as 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 Post-Bacc 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 SCHOLARSHIPS

The GW Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medicine program offers a limited number of institutional scholarships. These scholarships require students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.