Jump to navigation

The University of Arizona Wordmark Line Logo White
Home
  • UAccess
  • Admissions
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Apply for Aid
  • Scholarships
  • Accept Loans
  • Apply for Aid
    • Prospective and Incoming First-Year Students
    • Transfer
    • Graduate & Professional
    • Non-Degree Seeking
    • Current Undergraduate Students
    • University of Arizona Online
    • International
    • DACA or Dreamer Students
    • Veteran/Military
  • Types of Aid
    • Scholarships
    • Undergraduate Grants
    • Federal Work-Study
    • Loans
    • Graduate & Professional Student Funding
    • International Students
    • Summer Financial Aid
    • Winter Session Financial Aid
    • Study Abroad
    • One-Time Special Circumstances Funding
    • Western Undergraduate Exchange Program
    • Funding for Indigenous Wildcats
  • Cost
    • Incoming First-Year & Transfer Students
    • Net Price Calculator
    • Current Undergraduate Students
    • University of Arizona Online
    • New And Current Graduate & Professional Students
    • College Financing Plan
  • Forms
  • Policies
    • Athletic Financial Aid Appeal
    • AZ Student Loan Code of Conduct
    • Campus Change
    • Consortium Agreement Policy
    • Consumer Information
    • Disbursement Policy
    • Eligibility For Financial Aid
    • Enrollment History Review
    • Federal Verification
    • Financial Aid Appeals: Special Circumstances
    • Financial Aid Appeal: Merit Tuition Scholarships and Arizona Assurance
    • Financial Aid Deferment: Merit Tuition Scholarships and Arizona Assurance
    • NCAA Financial Aid Bylaws
    • Overaward
    • Pell Recalculation Policy
    • Repeat Coursework
    • Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
    • Social Media
    • Text Messaging
    • Title IV Authorization
    • Verify My FAFSA
    • Withdrawal Policy
  • FAQs
  • Resources
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Know Before You Go
    • Understanding Your Financial Aid Offers
    • AzAidSmart
    • Deadlines
    • Video Library
    • Events
    • Student Center Modernization
  • Contact
  • Search

Non-Degree Graduate Students Seeking Federal Financial Aid

Who is Eligible for Aid?

Federal regulations (34 CFR 668.32 & 34 CFR 685.200) require, with some exemptions, that a student must be enrolled in an eligible academic program for the purpose of obtaining a degree or approved certificate program offered by a school. A student not enrolled in a degree or approved certificate program is not eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Non-Eligible Federal Aid Situations

You are not eligible for Federal Direct Loans if you are taking classes to raise your GPA in order to be admitted into a graduate program, waiting to be admitted into graduate school, or the school is waiting for your GRE test scores. If you will not be officially admitted into your graduate school program, you will not be eligible for Federal Direct Loans. If as a student, you are categorized as a guest or non-degree graduate and your program/situation is not defined within this document, you will not be considered for federal financial aid programs.

Preparatory Coursework

A student may apply for a Federal Direct Loan for coursework which the school has documented is necessary to enroll in an eligible program. The student must be enrolled at least half-time in these prerequisite courses. Students may be eligible for loans for one consecutive 12-month period. Students taking preparatory coursework trying to enroll in a graduate or professional program may borrow at the fifth-year undergraduate loan level.

Loan Amounts

Federal regulation 34 CFR 685.203(a)(6) limits the Federal Direct Loan amounts that students can borrow under the preparatory coursework program to undergraduate loan limits even if you are paying graduate school fees.

Prior federal loan borrowing may reduce what you can borrow within these programs since you are restricted to undergraduate lifetime borrowing limits.

Dependent Students

Base Amount 0f Subsidized and Unsubsidized

Additional Federal Eligibility

Approved Graduate Preparatory Petition must be on file with OSFA

$5500

Parent PLUS loan up to the cost of attendance; for parents denied the PLUS loan students are eligible for up to $7000 additional unsubsidized loan funds.

Independent Students

Base Amount 0f Subsidized and Unsubsidized

Additional Federal Eligibility

Approved Graduate Preparatory Petition must be on file with OSFA

$5500

$7000 Unsubsidized

If you believe you are eligible to receive Federal Direct Loans as a Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Student for the purpose of preparatory coursework, review the form below.

Financial Aid Petition For Graduate Preparatory Work

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

If you do not qualify for federal loans, you may attempt to secure a private educational loan. Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) accepts and works with all private education loan providers. Students are encouraged to explore their options and find a lender and loan which best meets their needs.

Accept Loans

  • Apply for Aid
  • Deadlines
  • Cost
  • FAFSA
  • STUDENTAID.GOV
  • UAccess
  • Next Steps Center
  • Admissions

Scholarship Universe

  • Consumer Information
  • Campus Safety
  • Title IX
  • University Information Security & Privacy
  • Campus Accessibility
  • Diversity

Administration Building | The University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ USA 85721

Phone: (520) 621-1858 | Contact the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid


Website developed by Student Admin Systems Group

We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. Committed to diversity and inclusion, the University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.

© 2022 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of The University of Arizona.