Graduate Students
Financial Aid Application Process
Eligibility
To be eligible for federal student aid, a student must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States with a valid social security number. In general, students must be degree-seeking and enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Additionally, students may not owe a refund on a federal student grant nor be in default on a federal student loan.
Financial Aid Application
Applying for financial aid is an annual process. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the official application for all sources of federal aid for graduate/professional students. The University of Notre Dame's FAFSA code is 001840. The Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) is a username and password created to give you access to Federal Student Aid's online systems including the FAFSA.
- Students enrolling in programs beginning summer 2025 should complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA
- A student should not wait for an admission decision before completing the financial aid application process
- Graduate-level students are considered "Independent"; therefore, parental information is not required
- Please do not send a Verification Worksheet, tax return, etc. unless the information is requested
- Students will typically receive the annual borrowing limit for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program, $20,500 (however, the amount of the loan may not exceed the program's cost of attendance)
FAFSA Required Contributors and Consent to IRS Federal Tax Information (FTI)
Who are contributors?
A contributor—a new term introduced on the 2024-25 FAFSA—refers to anyone required to provide information on a student's FAFSA (such as a parent/stepparent or spouse). A student's or parent's answers on the FAFSA will determine which contributors (if any) will be required to provide information. Contributors will receive an email informing them that they've been identified as such and will need to log in using their own FSA ID to provide the required information on the student's FAFSA. Being a contributor does not mean they are financially responsible for the student's education costs. Still, it does mean the contributor must provide information on the FAFSA, or the application will be incomplete, and the student will not be eligible for federal student aid.
Consent to IRS FTI
Beginning with 2024-25 FAFSA, all required individuals on the FSA must consent for the Department of Education to receive tax information or confirmation of non-filing status directly from the IRS. In a minimal number of cases, students and families will have to enter their tax data manually, but for most, that data will be automatically transferred into the application. This change makes it easier to complete the FAFSA and reduces the number of questions to be answered.
Federal Financial Student Aid ID (FSA ID)
Students and, if required, their spouses need to create a FAFSA FSA ID to apply for federal student aid.
Financial Aid Offer
For students who apply for financial assistance, the Office of Financial Aid will provide a Financial Aid Offer outlining their eligibility for financial assistance. Official notification of academic fellowships, assistantships, and scholarships are sent by the student’s academic department and will be included on the Financial Aid Offer, if provided to our office. Students are asked to notify the Office of Financial Aid of the receipt of any other financial assistance beyond that outlined in the Financial Aid Offer.
Scholarship and Fellowship Assistance
Scholarship and fellowship assistance is offered by your admitting office, typically at the time of admission. The Office of Financial Aid will receive notification of the award and include it in the Financial Aid Offer. If you have questions regarding a scholarship or fellowship, please contact your admitting office directly.
International Students
Financial aid opportunities for international students are limited. In general, international students should be prepared to finance, either privately or through a sponsor, the cost of their Notre Dame education.
The Office of Financial Aid only facilitates loans for graduate students at Notre Dame. All scholarship and fellowship assistance is offered and administered by the student's admitting college or school.
Estimated Costs of Attendance
The estimated cost of attendance varies based upon the program in which you enroll. Actual costs vary based on housing accommodations, travel costs, and personal expenses. Annual increases in the cost of a Notre Dame education are anticipated.