Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Does UNH offer financial aid to Graduate Students?

R. Yes, UNH is committed to assisting our Graduate Students in the financing of their education by offering a comprehensive financial aid program.

Q. What type of aid is offered? 

R. We try to meet the needs of Graduate aid applicants through a "package" of assistance, generally consisting of:

Federal Stafford Loans - The primary financial aid source for most Graduate students. Stafford loans are awarded to graduate students who are; a US citizen or eligible non-citizen, enrolled at least half time, and have completed the financial aid process.  Graduate students may be able to borrow up to $20,500 per year in Stafford Loans, however this amount may be less depending on how they are enrolled.  More information on the Stafford Loans can be found here.

Graduate Assistantships - Are competitive appointments for full time (9 credits per trimester) Graduate students in either an administrative or teaching/research capacity.  The assistantship provides a half-tuition waiver.  A selected group of Graduate Assistantships are awarded through the admissions process.  An open application process for all unfilled position is conducted annually in May and held throughout the rest of the year.  You can search for open positions via the Graduate Assistantship Page. 

Student Employment - Graduate students who recieve an assistantship are provided with a stipend compensatory with working between 15 - 20 hours a week in their position.

Q. How do I apply for aid?

R.   If you applying for Graduate aid for any term in the 2009-2010 academic year (Fall 2009, Winter 2010 or Spring 2010) you are required to only submit the 2009-2010 FAFSA (available after 1/1/2009). 

Q. Will my financial aid cover my course costs?

R. In most cases if students are eligible to accept their full Stafford Loans of $20,500 per academic year, it will cover up to a full time course load for most  UNH Graduate Degree Programs.  You bill can be checked on e-pay and a current list of graduate charges can be found on the Bursars website.  Any excess financial aid funds after tuition charges and fees are satisfied will be returned to students in the form of a refund check from the Bursars Office.  

Q. When will I recieve my refund check?

R. A refund check can only be issued when there is a credit on your account at the Bursar's office (i.e. there is excess financial aid after all of your university fees and tuition costs have been covered).  To expedite a refund check you need to make sure that all of your financial aid procedures are completed including submission of a signed aid award letter, completion of a  Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note and/or Stafford Entrance interview (if required) and proper enrollment in the upcoming term.  Failure to complete any of these procedures can result in a delayed refund check.   

If all of your financial aid procedures are completed, your aid will disburse to your account on the first day of the trimester.  Once the aid has hit your account, the Bursar's Office will post all your pending university charges. If the aid creates a credit on your account, the Bursars office will generate a refund check. Based on federal regulations,  the Bursar's office has 14 days, once your financial aid is disbursed, to process a refund.  Traditionally our Bursar's office makes every effort to expedite that process in a shorter timeframe.  Refund checks are processed on a weekly basis and are available for student pickup on Fridays at the Bursar's Office. For more information regarding refunds click here.

Q. Do I need to notify the Financial Aid Office if I add or drop a class?

R. Yes.  There are several reasons that you have to notify us that you have added or dropped a class:

1. Some loans and grant programs are dependent on your credit load.  Stafford loans are only eligible to students that are enrolled half-time or above (5 credits are more) in any given trimester.  Our Graduate Assistantship grants are only available to fulltime (9 credits per trimester) students with the only exception being the last trimester of enrollment where the student may enroll halftime and still receive the Graduate Assistantship grant for 50% of their enrollment costs. 

2. The number of credits you are in drives your status (ie. full time, part time) and this in turn may affect the amount of financial aid you can recieve.  Your overall budget is dependent on your status.

3. Satisfactory academic progress, a mandatory regulation in maintaining financial aid, may be affected by dropping classes.  You were awarded aid based on achieving a specific number of credits per term (as stated in your aid award letter).  If you do not make those credits at year end when we check academic progress you will be ineligible to receive aid for the next academic year until those deficient credits are achieved.

Bottomline... before you change your schedule, drop a class or withdraw from a class, you must notify the Financial Aid Office to determine if that change will affect your eligibility for aid or your loan amounts.  

Q. What are the most common errors when applying for financial aid?

R. Filing your application late - Incorrect Social Security Numbers –  Omitting the school code 001397 on the FAFSA - Not using your legal name from your social security card - Submitting illegible, incomplete, or unsigned documentation - Failing to report other untaxed income such as child support, contributions to a 401k plan or an IRA, etc. - Under reporting or failure to report student assets, examples found on the FAFSA worksheet - Incorrect reporting of number in household/college on the FAFSA. Please double check your FAFSA before submitting it.

Q. If I receive an outside scholarship must I notify the financial aid office?

 R. Yes. Anytime a student receives funds from an outside company, employer, agency, or civic group they must report it to the UNH Financial Aid Office.

Q. Do I have to re-apply for financial aid every year?

R. Yes. Financial aid is not automatic and must be reapplied for each year. You can file anytime after January 1, and our deadline to submit the FAFSA is March 1.

Q. Who do I contact with additional questions or for more information on financial aid?

R. The Financial Aid Office is located in Maxcy Hall, Room 118B, and is open from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday-Friday. We can also be reached at (203) 932-7315, toll-free at 1-800-DIAL-UNH, ext.7315, or by email at financialaid@newhaven.edu.