Graduate Financial Aid Guide

For all graduate students, you are eligible to receive a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan of up to $20,500 for each academic year. Students who are not enrolled full time will not be eligible for the full amount of their loan. You can accept, decline, or reduce your loan on MyWestfield.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
Interest 7.94%
Origination Fee 1.057%

• Returning borrowers from the 2025–2026 academic year may be eligible for a Direct Graduate PLUS Loan.
• New borrowers for the 2026–2027 academic year are not eligible for the Graduate PLUS Loan.

Graduate students are able to borrow funds to cover both direct billed expenses (example: tuition and fees) as well as non-billed costs (such as books or living expenses) that are a part of their cost of attendance. 

Students may choose to supplement their Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan by applying for a private student loan up to their Cost of Attendance (COA).

Private Student Loans: Students can apply for a private or alternative student loan. Many students will need a creditworthy co-signer to apply with them. We use elmselect.com and credible.com as a way to assist students in selecting a lender. The Financial Aid Office at Westfield State University does not endorse any one private educational lender over another. Students can only borrow up to their full Cost of Attendance (COA).

Your overall Cost of Attendance will include items that are directly billed to you by the university (example: tuition and fees) and items that are not billed directly to you (example: books, supplies, and transportation). 

Indirect costs for books, supplies, transportation, living expenses and miscellaneous expenses are estimated and are included in the formula to determine your eligibility for financial aid. Cost of Attendance budgets are designed to provide students with a reasonable estimate of total costs. Your Cost of Attendance is different than your bill.

*Estimated on a 9 credit full-time enrollment each semester.
**Reflects an average of standard costs for off-campus living and food expenses.
***Includes personal expenses, loan fee, etc.

If you have requested additional funds beyond your direct costs, for books or living expenses, you have a few ways to access the funds:

Federal Direct Loans can be used to pay for Winter and Summer session courses.

• You can use any excess funds refunded to you in the Fall or Spring to pay for Winter or Summer classes
• To request a designated loan for Summer classes, contact Financial Aid in late March/early April 2027
• For Federal Direct Loans, you must be half-time or more and the annual loan limit of $20,500 applies
• Private loans can also be used for Summer

When you signed your 2026–2027 FAFSA, you agreed to very specific terms and conditions. As a recipient of financial aid, it is important that you fully understand the responsibilities listed below:

• Any changes in enrollment, financial or residential status must be reported to the Financial Aid Office to determine whether your eligibility is affected. Initial loans are offered based on full time enrollment, which is 9 credits.
• You are required to notify the Financial Aid Office of any assistance you receive from another source. This includes, but is not limited to, scholarships and tuition waivers. Your loan eligibility may be revised upon notification of an outside resource.
• If you withdraw after the first day of classes, your financial aid eligibility, including your loan eligibility, may be reduced based upon federal procedures.
• Fall funds will disburse on October 6, 2026. Spring funds will disburse on February 19, 2027.

For more information about the funds you have been awarded, consumer information, or a glossary of financial aid terms, please refer to to the financial aid website.