You've been researching programs for months. You finally look at the tuition number, and your first instinct is to close the tab.

Your second instinct is probably this: I have a job. I have savings. I won't qualify for anything. So you skip the financial aid application and start doing math in a spreadsheet instead.

We hear this from future students every admissions cycle. It's also the most expensive assumption you can make. Financial aid for graduate school rarely works the way people expect, and the only way to learn what you're eligible for is to ask.

What "financial aid" actually means at the graduate level

Financial aid is not one thing. It's a category that includes loans, scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition benefits, and outside awards. Types of loans include federal and private, while types of scholarships include institutional (university) and outside.  

Some of these depend on financial need. Many don't. And a surprising number require one thing before you can be considered: a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file.

That's the piece students miss. The FAFSA isn't only a request for federal loans. It's the form that makes you visible to the aid system at all.

The Financial Aid office at Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions administers roughly $10 million in scholarships and $58 million in loans each year.  

One detail worth knowing early: all students accepted into entry-level programs at Mass General Brigham University are automatically considered for the University Scholarship, and recipients are notified in their acceptance letter.  

Do graduate students qualify for the FAFSA?

Yes. And the process is often simpler than it was for your bachelor's degree.

As a graduate student, you're automatically considered independent. No parent information and no awkward phone calls asking your family for tax returns. Your own information is generally what counts.  

You won't be eligible for a Pell Grant or a Mass Grant at the graduate level. But federal loans and a wide range of aid all flow from that single application at studentaid.gov.

The rules changed in 2026, and it matters more than ever

Here's what makes this year different from every year before it.

Graduate PLUS loans were eliminated for new borrowers as of July 1, 2026. For years, Grad PLUS worked as a federal gap-filler. Students could borrow up to their school's full cost of attendance, minus other aid. That option is no longer available to new borrowers.

What remains for graduate students is the Direct Unsubsidized Loan, now capped at $20,500 per two-semester loan period and $100,000 over a lifetime. Students who borrowed a Grad PLUS loan before July 1, 2026 may be able to continue under prior rules for a limited period, if they stay in the same program.

Read that again, because the implication is significant. Federal loans no longer stretch automatically to cover your full budget.

That makes scholarships, assistantships, and employer benefits far more important than they were two years ago. Every one of those dollars is a dollar you don't have to find elsewhere.

If you work anywhere in the Mass General Brigham system, review the Tuition Reduction Incentive Program before you do anything else. Many employees qualify for a significant tuition discount, and it can be combined with other aid.

When should you apply?

Early. Earlier than feels necessary.

The 2027-28 FAFSA opened to the public on October 1, 2026, and uses your 2025 federal tax return. The federal deadline isn't until June 30, 2028, but we do not have a University deadline. We recommend filing early to ensure we can review your Federal financial aid eligibility prior to the bill deadline.  

Why applying protects your options

You can always decline aid you were offered. You cannot accept aid you never applied for. While it’s important to apply at your earliest convenience, students can apply for the FAFSA at anytime during the two-semester loan period and potentially be awarded retroactively.  

Filing the FAFSA is not a commitment. It's an option you're holding open.

Four assumptions worth retiring

"I earn too much." Federal loan eligibility for graduate students isn't income-capped the way many people assume, and institutional awards use their own criteria.

"I'm only part-time." Students must generally be enrolled at least half-time to receive federal loans, so part-time study doesn't automatically disqualify you. Check before you rule yourself out.

"I don't want debt, so there's no point." Filing doesn't obligate you to borrow anything. It may also connect you to scholarships that aren't loans at all.

"I already have a scholarship." Aid packages combine. Your award may not be the whole picture.

What you'll need to file

  • Your FSA ID, which you can create before the form opens
  • Your 2025 federal tax return and W-2s
  • Records of untaxed income and current asset balances
  • Your Social Security number or Alien Registration number
  • Our federal school code, G22316  

Most students finish in under an hour. Before you start, it helps to review the full cost of attendance and billing picture so you know what number you're working against.

Start the conversation

You don't have to figure out how to pay for graduate school by yourself. That's what our financial aid team is here for, and they would much rather talk with you now than in the semester you run short.

Reach them at financialaid [at] mghihp.edu (financialaid[at]mghihp[dot]edu) or (617) 724-6332, or visit our financial aid page to get started.

Federal and institutional aid policies change annually. Confirm current details with the Office of Financial Aid before making decisions.