Applying for Aid as a Graduate Student

Did you know that approximately 70% of all UNC students receive some form of financial aid assistance? Understanding the financial aid process is an important step toward fulfilling your educational goals. Take the first step to receiving financial aid by filing your FAFSA. Learn more about all your options and completing your next steps by reviewing the below information.

Applying for Aid

Important Dates

  • October 1 – FAFSA opens for the 2026-27 academic year
  • November 1 – UNC Scholarship Application opens for the 2026-27 academic year. Complete through your Ursa account.
  • February 1 – UNC Scholarship deadline for new Freshmen and continuing students
  • June 1 –  FAFSA Priority Deadline: Submit your FAFSA by the deadline to be considered for the most financial aid.
    • UNC Scholarship deadline for new transfer, international and graduate students.
  • June 15 – Take Action on Your Aid Offer – Log in to Ursa to accept or decline your financial aid offer to help ensure it is ready for on-time payment to your student bill the week before classes start.
  • August 1 – Complete your loan requirements, complete your Entrance Counseling, and sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov.

Aid for Graduate Students

Graduate student may be eligible for a mix of federal, state and institutional aid, including loans, scholarships, and assistantships. The Graduate School also offers tuition support and funding opportunities specific to your program.
Learn more about graduate funding options at the Graduate School Funding and Costs page.

Tuition and Funding

Obtaining Aid

Graduate students have several options to help fund their education — from federal student aid to assistantships, scholarships, and private loans. This section walks you through how to apply for aid, review your award, and explore additional opportunities that can support your academic and professional goals.

You’ll find step-by-step guidance for submitting your FAFSA, completing the UNC Scholarship Application, and reviewing your aid in Ursa. You can also learn about funding options for summer enrollment, studying abroad, or transferring graduate credits to UNC.

If you’re pursuing an assistantship or other campus employment, explore how these positions can provide tuition support and valuable experience in your field. Each section below is designed to help you make informed decisions and manage your educational costs with confidence.

Start your financial aid process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov. Use UNC’s school code: 001349

Graduate students are automatically considered independent, which means you’ll report only your own income (and your spouse’s, if applicable). You don’t need to include your parents’ information.

The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal student aid, including:

  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
  • Federal Work-Study
  • Federal Graduate PLUS Loans (unavailable to new borrowers beginning July 1, 2026 – learn more on the Federal Student Aid Update page)
  • Limited state need-based aid programs

To maximize your aid eligibility, submit your FAFSA as soon as possible after it becomes available.

Once your FAFSA is processed, you’ll receive a confirmation from the U.S. Department of Education and later an aid offer notification from UNC in your Ursa account.

Graduate students are encouraged to complete the UNC Scholarship Application each year to be considered for scholarships funded through the UNC Foundation and various academic departments.

The application is available in Ursa under the Financial Aid tab. You must have an active Bear Number and UNC login to apply.

Key Dates for Graduate Students:

  • November 1 – UNC Scholarship Application opens
  • June 1 – Priority deadline for submission

By completing one application, you’ll automatically be considered for hundreds of scholarships based on your program, academic achievements, and other eligibility factors. Some scholarships may ask for short essays or additional materials – so give yourself time to review and complete all sections carefully.

Access the UNC Scholarship Application in Ursa

Ursa is your student account where you can find important information about financial aid, registration, grades, and GPA.

Be sure to check your BearMail account regularly. This is where UNC sends official emails, including financial aid updates, award notifications, and document requests.

The Office of Financial Aid primarily communicates through BearMail, so checking it regularly ensures you don’t miss deadlines or important information about your aid eligibility.

Once your aid offer is available, follow these steps to review and respond in Ursa. 

  1. Log in to Ursa and go to the Financial Tab. 
  2. Select View/Accept Award Offer and choose the correct award year. 
  3. Review your aid listed under Cost of Attendance. 
  4. Use Take Action to accept, decline, or modify each award. 
  5. If modifying, you may be able to: 
    • Accept aid for one or both terms 
    • Reduce the amount offered to a lower value 
  6. Click Submit or confirm to save your choices.  
  7. Return to the Home tab to check for any outstanding requirements. These must be completed before your aid can be applied to your account.  

Changing Your Aid Selection 

If you need to increase, decrease, or cancel a loan you’ve already accepted, please submit the Loan Adjustment Form. 

Note: If you’ve never borrowed a Federal Direct Stafford Loan with UNC before, you’ll also need to complete Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov before funds can be disbursed. 

You can view your student bill in Ursa under the Financial tab.

Your account balance for each term appears at the top left of the screen, and your total balance is shown at the bottom.

To see a detailed list of charges, payments, and credits for a specific term, click on that term’s link.

For help understanding your charges and payments, visit How to Read Your Bill. 

Processing for summer financial aid begins in April for students registered for summer classes and who have a current-year FAFSA on file. The deadline for summer aid is July 20.  Summer aid can be viewed and accepted through Ursa under the View/Accept Award Offer tab.

Graduate program cost can vary depending on your degree, program, and enrollment status. Your total costs will include more than tuition and fees – you should also account for housing, books, transportation, and personal expenses.

To help you plan ahead, UNC provides an estimated Cost of Attendance (COA), also called your student budget, for different types of graduate students (resident/nonresident, online/on-campus, etc.).

Your actual expenses may differ based on your course load, housing choices, and personal spending habits. Some programs may also charge additional fees for materials, labs, or field experiences.

Use your estimated costs to:

  • Compare program options
  • Plan your financial aid and personal budget
  • Estimate any out-of-pocket costs after aid is applied

 

Maintaining Your Aid

As a graduate student, you’re expected to maintain steady academic progress toward your degree to continue qualifying for financial aid. These standards ensure you remain on track academically and meet federal and university requirements.

UNC reviews your progress at the end of each term based on your GPA, completion rate, and how many credits you’ve attempted toward your degree.

To stay eligible for financial aid, graduate students must meet all three standards:

  • GPA: Maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
    Some graduate programs may require a higher GPA to remain in good standing, so check your program’s requirements.

  • Completion Rate: Successfully complete at least 67% of all attempted credits.

  • Maximum Timeframe: Complete your degree within 150% of the published program length (for example, 75 attempted credits for a 50-credit program).

If you don’t meet one or more of these standards, you may be placed on Financial Aid Warning for one term. Continued ineligibility or exceeding the maximum timeframe will result in Financial Aid Ineligibility.

If unusual or extenuating circumstances affect your academic progress, you may submit a SAP Appeal with supporting documentation to request reinstatement of your aid.

Learn more about how SAP is reviewed and how to appeal on the Maintaining Your Aid page.