Yes, you can file FAFSA for graduate school, but the form and the money available work differently than they do for undergraduates.

When you move from a bachelor's degree to a master's degree, PhD, or other graduate program, you remain may be able to access to file FAFSA. However, the types of aid you can receive shift significantly. Federal grants like the Pell Grant end — those are for undergraduates only. What remains available are federal student loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized), work-study positions, and whatever aid your specific graduate program offers directly.

The FAFSA itself asks the same financial questions, but your school's financial aid office treats your answers differently. They calculate your Expected Family Contribution (now called the Student Aid Index) the same way, but they use it to determine loan amounts rather than grant amounts. Your graduate school may also have its own aid forms — some require the CSS Profile or institutional financial aid applications in addition to FAFSA.

Key Takeaways

  • You file FAFSA for graduate school the same way you do for undergraduate, but federal grants like the Pell Grant are no longer available to you.
  • Federal loans for graduate students include unsubsidized loans (interest accrues while you study) and PLUS loans (higher borrowing limits, credit check required), but not subsidized loans.
  • Your graduate school's financial aid office determines what aid you receive based on your FAFSA information and the school's own funding.
  • Some graduate programs require additional financial aid forms beyond FAFSA, so contact your school's aid office before filing to confirm what they need.
  • Graduate students can borrow more total federal loan money than undergraduates, but borrowing limits vary by program type and school.

How FAFSA Changes for Graduate Students

The FAFSA form itself does not change — you answer questions about income, assets, family size, and household members the same way. But the financial aid office at your graduate school uses those answers to calculate a different aid package. For undergraduates, FAFSA determines may be able to access for grants, loans, and work-study. For graduate students, FAFSA primarily determines loan may be able to access and work-study may be able to access; grants are rare and come from the school itself, not from federal sources.

Your Expected Family Contribution (or Student Aid Index, depending on which FAFSA year you file) is calculated identically, but it means something different in the graduate context. The school subtracts this number from your cost of attendance to determine how much you can borrow, rather than how much grant money you might receive. This means graduate students with higher family income are not shut out of federal loans the way undergraduates might be shut out of grants.

Federal Loans Available to Graduate Students

Unsubsidized Federal Loans are the primary federal borrowing tool for graduate students. Unlike subsidized loans (which are not available to graduate students), interest begins accruing the moment you take out an unsubsidized loan, even while you are still in school. The interest rate is set by Congress and changes each year; for the 2024–2025 academic year, the rate is 6.53 percent. You can defer payments until after graduation, but the unpaid interest gets added to your loan balance.

Graduate PLUS Loans allow you to borrow additional money beyond the unsubsidized loan limit. These loans require a credit check, and the interest rate is higher than unsubsidized loans (8.05 percent for 2024–2025). PLUS loans have no aggregate borrowing cap — you can borrow up to your cost of attendance minus other aid. However, if you have adverse credit history, you may be denied unless you find an endorser.

The annual borrowing limit for unsubsidized loans is $20,500 per year for most graduate students, though some fields (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law) have higher limits. Your school's financial aid office can tell you the specific limit for your program.

Grants and Scholarships for Graduate School

Federal grants do not extend to graduate students. The Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and other federal grant programs are restricted to undergraduate study. This is the largest difference between undergraduate and graduate FAFSA aid.

Graduate funding comes from three sources: your school's own money, external scholarships and fellowships, and federal loans. Many graduate programs offer tuition waivers, assistantships (teaching or research positions that pay a stipend and often cover tuition), or merit scholarships directly. These are not determined by FAFSA — they come from the graduate program's budget or from donors who have funded specific scholarships. Your program's admissions or financial aid office will tell you what funding is available and how to be considered for it.

External scholarships and fellowships come from professional associations, nonprofits, employers, and foundations. These are not part of FAFSA but can significantly reduce what you need to borrow. Many are field-specific (engineering, nursing, education, etc.) or demographic-specific (first-generation, minority-serving, military-connected).

When and How to File FAFSA for Graduate School

You file FAFSA for graduate school during the same window as for undergraduate: October 1 through June 30 of the academic year you plan to attend. The form opens October 1 and processes applications continuously; schools use a rolling admissions process for financial aid, meaning earlier filers are reviewed first. If you are explore to graduate programs in fall 2025, you can file FAFSA starting October 1, 2024.

On the FAFSA form, you will select your graduate school's school code when you list the schools you want your information sent to. If you have not yet decided which school to attend, you can add schools later or update your list after you file. Your school's financial aid office will receive your FAFSA information and use it to build your aid package.

Some graduate schools require additional forms. Contact your program's financial aid office before filing FAFSA to ask whether they need the CSS Profile, an institutional financial aid form, or proof of income documents. Having this list in advance saves time.

How Graduate Schools Use Your FAFSA Information

Your graduate school's financial aid office receives your FAFSA data and calculates your Cost of Attendance — tuition, fees, books, living expenses, and other costs specific to your program and enrollment status. They subtract any aid you have already received (scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition reimbursement) from this cost. The remainder is what you are may be able to access to borrow in federal loans.

The school then builds an aid package that may include unsubsidized loans, PLUS loans, work-study, and any institutional aid the program offers. This package is not automatic — you must accept the loans and other aid offered. You can decline loans you do not want to borrow, or you can request a review if you believe your financial situation has changed since you filed FAFSA.

Dependency Status and Parent Information

Graduate students are treated as independent on FAFSA, regardless of age or whether your parents claim you as a dependent on their taxes. This means you do not report your parents' income or assets, and your parents' financial situation does not affect your aid. You report only your own income, assets, and household information.

This is a significant change from undergraduate FAFSA, where most students under 24 are considered dependent and must report parent information. As a graduate student, even if your parents are helping you pay for school, FAFSA does not ask about their finances. Your aid is based solely on your own financial picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to file FAFSA if my graduate program offers a full scholarship or assistantship?

Not necessarily, but it is worth asking your program. Some schools require FAFSA even if you have a full scholarship, because they use it to determine work-study may be able to access or to track federal aid data. Others do not require it if you have full funding. Contact your financial aid office to confirm whether filing is required for your situation.

Can I use federal loans to pay for graduate school while working full-time?

Yes. Graduate students can borrow federal loans regardless of enrollment status — full-time, part-time, or online. However, your borrowing limit may be lower if you are enrolled part-time. Confirm your school's definition of part-time and ask your financial aid office what your annual loan limit is under your enrollment status.

What happens to my undergraduate federal loans when I start graduate school?

Your undergraduate loans remain separate and continue to accrue interest. You can request a deferment or forbearance while you are in graduate school, which pauses payments temporarily, but interest on unsubsidized loans continues to accrue. Contact your loan servicer to discuss your options before graduate school starts.

Can I borrow more in graduate school than I could as an undergraduate?

Yes. Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 per year in unsubsidized loans, plus additional PLUS loans up to their cost of attendance. Undergraduates have lower annual limits. However, you should consider your total debt load across both degrees when deciding how much to borrow.

Do I need to file FAFSA every year of graduate school?

Yes. You must file FAFSA each academic year you are enrolled in graduate school. Your financial situation may change, and your school needs updated information to determine your aid package each year. File during the October 1 to June 30 window for the year you plan to attend.