Can You Get Financial Aid for Graduate School Part-Time?

Yes — you can get financial aid for graduate school while enrolled part-time, but what you qualify for depends on your enrollment level and how your school defines “part-time,” “half-time,” and “full-time” for your specific program.

Key Rule: You Must Be at Least Half-Time

• Less than half-time: Typically not eligible for federal student loans.
• Half-time or more: Eligible for federal student loans (assuming you meet other standard requirements).

Important: Each graduate program can define half-time and full-time differently (often based on credits per term), so you should confirm the definition for your exact program track.

If you are planning to borrow for grad school, you can find everything you need in our section on Grad Student Loans.

CollegeWhale Tip: A longer graduate program does not automatically mean part-time enrollment. Many 3-year programs are still classified as full-time for federal financial aid purposes. Always confirm how the program defines enrollment status for loans.

What Financial Aid Can Part-Time Graduate Students Receive?

1) Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan (Graduate)

• Graduate students can borrow up to the annual maximum (commonly known as the graduate Direct Unsubsidized limit).
• If you are classified as full-time, you are typically eligible for the full annual amount (assuming your Cost of Attendance supports it).
• If you are classified as half-time (or otherwise part-time), your school may prorate the amount depending on its policies and your Cost of Attendance.

CollegeWhale Tip: Federal student loans generally require at least half-time enrollment. If you drop below half-time, loan eligibility can pause until your enrollment level increases again.

2) Grad PLUS Loan

• Currently, Grad PLUS loans can cover remaining eligible costs up to your Cost of Attendance (COA), after other aid is applied.
• You generally must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible.
• Funding is based on your school’s Cost of Attendance calculation and remaining eligibility, not simply whether you’re on a longer program track.

How “Prorating” Usually Works for Part-Time Enrollment

If you are enrolled part-time (but still at least half-time), your school may adjust your Cost of Attendance (COA). However, COA is not always cut in half because many costs remain similar regardless of course load.

• Costs like housing and food often remain largely the same.
• Tuition may change depending on whether your program charges per-credit or uses flat-rate tuition.
• Because COA drives loan eligibility, a reduced COA can reduce the maximum you can borrow.

In practice, this means part-time status does not automatically mean you receive “half” the aid — it depends on the school’s COA and packaging rules.

CollegeWhale Tip: Part-time enrollment does not automatically mean your financial aid is cut in half. Schools calculate aid using Cost of Attendance, and many living expenses remain similar regardless of course load.

Important: A 3-Year Track Is Not Automatically Part-Time

A longer graduate program (such as a 3-year track) is often designed to spread the same total credits across more terms, but it may still be classified as full-time for financial aid purposes. Many clinical and professional programs structure their pacing this way.

Do not assume a 3-year track equals part-time. The only reliable way to know is to confirm how the program classifies enrollment for financial aid.

What to Ask the School (Copy/Paste)

Use these questions with the financial aid office for each program you are considering:

• How does your program define full-time and half-time enrollment for federal financial aid?
• For the 3-year track, are students considered full-time or part-time for loan eligibility?
• Is tuition charged per credit or is it flat-rate by term?
• How is the Cost of Attendance calculated for part-time enrollment?

What This Means for Graduate Students

• Yes, you can receive graduate financial aid while part-time.
• You generally must be enrolled at least half-time for federal loans.
• Loan amounts may be adjusted based on your enrollment classification and Cost of Attendance.
• A longer program track is not automatically part-time — your school’s classification controls eligibility.