School of Continuing Studies Graduate Programs

Financial aid for graduate students in the School of Continuing Studies may consist of service scholarships and student loans. A complete list of service scholarships and how to apply can be found on the School of Continuing Studies website. Our office uses your financial aid application (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for students loans. You are eligible to borrow up to your program’s full cost of attendance. To be eligible for federal loans, you must be enrolled in a minimum of half time as determined by the University Registrar in courses that apply towards your program’s completion requirements. Students must also be academically engaged in their courses.

In order to maintain your eligibility for federal financial aid, you must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward your degree. Please note that these standards do not replace or supersede GU’s academic regulations or individual schools’ regulations and procedures. Questions regarding the student financial aid SAP policy should be directed to The Office of Student Financial Services. Please refer to the Graduate Satisfactory Academic Policy for more information.

How to Apply

  • Fall/ Spring financial aid loan eligibility is based on an assumption of 6 credits in the Fall and 6 credits in the Spring 
  • Period of enrollment spans August -December for the fall semester and January -May for the spring semester.
  • If this information is incorrect and/or your period of enrollment for Fall and Spring does not span a full semester, please email scsfinaid@georgetown.edu Your Cost of Attendance will be recalculated and your financial aid package may be revised.

To apply for fall and/or spring financial aid you must:  

  • Students complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA  in order to apply for financial aid for the 2023 fall, 2024 spring and 2024 summer academic terms. Complete a 2023-2024 FAFSA no later than June 30, 2024. FAFSA school code is 001445.
  • Students complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA  in order to apply for financial aid for the 2024 fall, 2025 spring and 2025 summer academic terms. Complete a 2024-2025 FAFSA no later than June 30, 2025. FAFSA school code is 001445.

To apply for summer financial aid:

  • Summer Surveys will be posted on the Personal tab on GU Experience by the middle of February.
  • Complete a 2023-2024 FAFSA no later than June 30, 2024.

Next Steps After Receiving Your Award Notification

Step 1: Review Your Award in GU Experience

Your financial aid award will be available for review in GU Experience under the “Financial Services” tab, where you can accept, reduce, or decline components of your financial aid award. Financial aid that stays in an “offered” status will not appear on your billing statement.

Step 2: Review the Federal Loan Comparison Chart

Loan Type Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
Eligibility Not credit-based Credit-based (students with adverse credit may be eligible with a credit-worthy endorser)
Enrollment Status Must be at least half-time, as defined by university registrar Must be at least half-time, as defined by university registrar
Limit Cost of attendance minus financial aid and other resources received; maximum $20,500 per academic year Cost of attendance minus financial aid and other resources received
Interest Rate

8.08%1 or 7.05%2 (begins to accrue after first disbursement)

1 For loans disbursed between 7/1/24 and 6/30/25
2 For loans disbursed between 7/1/23 and 6/30/24

9.08%1 or 8.05%2 (begins to accrue after first disbursement)

1 For loans disbursed between 7/1/24 and 6/30/25
2 For loans disbursed between 7/1/23 and 6/30/24
Origination Fee 1.057%(loans disbursed between 10/1/20 and 9/30/24)
1.059%(loans disbursed between 10/1/19 and 9/30/20)		 4.228%(loans disbursed between 10/1/20 and 9/30/24)
4.236% (loans disbursed between 10/1/19 and 9/30/20) 
Grace Period Six months after graduation, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment Option to begin repayment immediately after full year disbursement, or you can apply for in-school deferment and begin six months after graduation, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment
Repayment Term Standard 10-year repayment plan. For more options, visit Federal Student Aid Standard 10-year repayment plan. For more options, visit Federal Student Aid

Step 3: Complete Your Student Loan Requirements

If you have accepted your Federal Direct Loans in GU Experience and are a first-time borrower at Georgetown, you will need to complete the following loan requirements:

Unsubsidized Loan

  1. Entrance Counseling
  2. Master Promissory Note for a Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan (MPN)

Graduate PLUS Loan

Step 4: Report Your Scholarships

Scholarships and resources include private scholarships, service scholarships, affiliate scholarships, and tuition benefits. Under federal law and university policy, we must consider these resources and may be required to revise your financial aid award.

You must report all outside resources through GU Experience by going to “Award Information,” then to “Resources/Additional Information.” Our office also provides information to assist you in searching for outside scholarships.

If your outside resource is being sent to Georgetown, please note this in the comments section in GU Experience and use this address:

Office of Student Financial Services
Reiss Science, Building Suite 200
3700 O St N.W., Box 571252

If you need an official invoice from the university for your outside award to be disbursed, you must send a written request to the Office of Revenue and Receivables . The office will then bill your sponsor.

Step 5: Review Your Bill

You can view your bill by clicking “Student Account Services” after logging into GU Experience. If you have any questions about paying your bill, setting up a payment plan, or accessing your refund, contact the Office of Revenue and Receivables. 

You will be notified by email when a billing statement has been issued. Bills are generally issued in mid-June and mid-November. If you accepted your financial aid in GU Experience and completed all your loan requirements the net amount will appear on your billing statement as memo credits until actual funds are disbursed and it will reduce the amount that you must pay. 

If you have a credit on your student account, you are eligible for a refund. You will know you have a refund on your account if your account balance in your GU Experience is a negative number, which usually appears a few days after your aid disburses to your student account. To access that refund (ie credit):

  1. Set up your “Payment Profile” – your bank information – in GU Experience (instructions below)
  2. Then go to http://guexperience.georgetown.edu/
  3. Sign into GU Experience using your NetID and password
  4. Once signed in, click on “Student Account”
  5. Then click on “Request a Refund”
  6. If you have a refundable balance, you will be given an option to “Request a Refund”. Click!

Note: Refunds take 48-72 hours to process so expect to receive the funds in 3-4 days. Please keep in mind that you will not be able to request a refund until the funds for any student loans have been received (generally not until the first day/week of class). Be sure to check for a refund at the beginning of EACH semester.

Set up your Payment Profile (ie your bank account information) in your student account. This will be helpful for a number of reasons, especially if you are eligible for a refund from the university

  1. Get the “routing number” for your bank account. (You may call your bank, or check your bank’s website to get this.
  2. Log in to GU Experience using your Net ID and password
  3. Once signed in, click on “Student Account” (the 4th option)
  4. Click on “Student Account Services” (this will bring up a new window)
  5. Click on “My Profiles” (on top tabs)
  6. Click on “Payment Profile”
  7. Use the drop box under ‘Add a Payment Method’ and select “Electronic Check”
  8. Follow the instructions to set up the payment profile. You will need the routing number of your bank account. Call your bank, or check your bank’s website to find the routing number.

Step 6: Waive or Accept Your Student Health Insurance

To improve the health and wellness of the community, most full-time students are eligible and mandated to enroll in the most comprehensive student health insurance offered by Georgetown University. Students who have adequate health insurance coverage, according to these requirements, may choose to waive health insurance by completing the Student Health Insurance Survey in GU Experience. It may take several weeks for the student health insurance charge to be removed from the student’s account after the waiver is completed.