Financial Aid

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Payment of all assessed fees at the times designated is prerequisite to official enrollment. Checks and money orders should be made payable to Ohio University in the exact amount of the fees. Postdated checks are not acceptable. Checks not paid upon presentation to the bank will automatically cancel any receipts given and result in assessment of penalties. It is important that you retain all fee receipts.

Ohio University reserves the right to make, without prior notice, any fee adjustments that may become necessary. Graduate students carrying more than eight hours are eligible for the Monthly Payment Plan, which equalizes the academic year’s fees into nine monthly payments.

Approximately 1,500 full and partial graduate, research, and teaching assistantships are available for graduate students in degree programs at Ohio University. Students who have been admitted to a master or a doctoral degree are selected for these appointments on the basis of scholarly merit.

Graduate appointments normally become effective the first day of each quarter. Individual schools or departments may, at their discretion, request that newly appointed assistants report for orientation up to a week prior to the beginning of the quarter. Ohio University Policy and Procedure 41.004 outlines the effective dates of employment responsibilities for Graduate Assistants.

Ohio University is a signatory to the Council of Graduate School’s Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees and Assistants. Full text of the resolution can be found at www.cgsnet.org/pdf/resolution.pdf.

The assistantship provides a stipend for services as prescribed by the individual school or department and requires a minimum academic course load of 12 graduate credits a quarter. The assistantship usually includes a tuition scholarship for the length of the contract. The stipends vary from academic area to academic area, but generally range from $6,150 to $12,000 for three quarters (i.e., from September to June) and $8,000 to $15,000 for a 12-month appointment. Contact the individual school, academic department, or administrative office for details on assistantships and tuition scholarships.

Students who have assistantships generally fulfill academic responsibilities and serve as prescribed by the school or department.Some graduate assistants are funded from non-academic department resources. These assistants engage in duties varying from residence hall directorships to service in the library and University administrative offices. There are three types of assistantships:

Teaching Assistantships (TA). This designation is used for students receiving stipend support when 50% or more of the duties are directly related to the teaching mission of the department or school.

Graduate Assistantships (GA). This designation is used for students receiving stipend support with 50% or more of the duties are primarily administrative in character and/or their duties are not directly related to either the instructional or research mission of the university, but to professional training.

Research Assistantships (RA). this designation is used for students receiving stipend support when 50% or more of their duties are directly related to research or creative activities.

TA Oral English Proficiency Requirement. Teaching Assistants must meet oral English proficiency requirements as defined by the State of Ohio. These requirements apply to all teaching assistants with instructional responsibility regardless of the teaching assistant’s native language. Non-native speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency through the SPEAK test, see www.ohio.edu/linguistics/enhancement/speak.html for details. Native English speakers must be certified by the department/school for which the student is teaching. For further information on how to meet English proficiency requirements, contact your department/school.

Some schools or academic departments offer an alternative form of assistance, the Graduate Recruitment Scholarship/Stipend (GRS). The GRS consists of a partial tuition scholarship and a stipend of $600 per quarter. A GRS appointment requires six hours of service per week each quarter of the appointment. Together, the scholarship and the stipend cover most of the tuition costs for a quarter.

Students who are awarded a GRS are required to register for an academic course load of a minimum of 15 graduate credits per quarter.

 Ohio University has a limited number of named fellowships such as the Hiram Roy Wilson Fellowships in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Environmental and Plant Biology. Stocker Fellowships are available in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. The University also participates in available federal fellowship programs. The African Studies Program and the Southeast Asia Studies Program at the Center for International Studies offer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships to U.S. residents who demonstrate a strong Africa/Southeast Asia career and/or research interest. If the applicant has no previous graduate study, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required. Interest in applying for FLAS funding should be indicated on the application to the Center for International Studies.

The Graduate College, with the advice of the Graduate Council, provides four named fellowships each year. Fellowships are awarded on a campus-wide, competitive basis each spring for the following year. The Named Fellowships are:

• John Cady Graduate Fellowship,

• Donald Clippinger Graduate Fellowship,

• Claude Kantner Graduate Fellowship, and

• Anthony Trisolini Graduate Fellowship.

Additional fellowship opportunities may be found at the Graduate College Web site: www.ohio.edu/graduate

Full or partial tuition scholarships are available in conjunction with a graduate appointment or fellowship. These are granted on a competitive basis to incoming graduate students who have maintained high undergraduate averages, or to graduate students who have maintained at least a 3.0 graduate GPA. These scholarships require full-time study (12 graduate credits per quarter for RA, TA, or GA; 15 graduate credits per quarter for Recruitment scholarship/stipends, fellowships, or tuition scholarships). Students receiving a tuition scholarship also receive a subsidy toward the general fee. Payment of the remainder of the general fee is the student’s responsibility.

Tuition scholarships may be available for the summer quarter to those students who have a scholarship for the spring quarter preceding or the fall quarter following the summer quarter. You must carry an academic course load of nine (9) graduate hours and pay the general fee for the summer quarter.

Tuition scholarships do not cover courses taken during winter intersession.

The tuition scholarship will be discontinued if your academic average as a graduate student at Ohio University falls below a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Schools or departments may require a higher average. Tuition scholarships are not available to students who have exceeded the maximum number of funded quarters.

Spousal Tuition Scholarship Benefits are available to spouses of graduate students who hold an RA, GA, or TA appointment. The benefit pays half of the instructional fee (not the general fee) up to six credit hours per quarter during the period or period(s) in which your appointment is in effect. The Spousal Tuition Scholarship cannot be used to pay for OPIE courses or courses taken for Audit. Application forms are available in the Graduate College or can be downloaded from www.ohio.edu/graduate/gradappts_docs.cfm. Applications must be completed and returned to the Graduate College prior to the 15th day of the quarter for which the student is seeking the benefit.

The Guidelines for maintaining a Graduate Appointment are listed in the document Graduate Appointment Information and Policies, available on the web at www.ohio.edu/graduate/upload/gradapptguidelines.pdf

Full-time Assistantships appointments require 15-20 hours of work per week. Half-time Assistantships generally require 8-10 hours of work per week. Graduate Assistants may not accept other full-time employment, either within or outside of the University. Graduate students cannot have two full-time graduate Appointments. Maximum hours of total employment are 20 hours per week on or off campus.

You must complete all required employment paperwork. International students must apply for and receive a Social Security Number. Failure to complete employment paperwork by the posted deadline may result in registration holds or cancellation of employment.

You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all graduate courses and show satisfactory progress toward your degree, as defined by your program/department. Schools or departments may require a higher GPA.

You must perform graduate appointment duties satisfactorily, as defined by the immediate supervisor or the department or school. Failure to perform duties satisfactorily may result in termination of the appointment.

Questions or problems concerning assignments should be resolved within the employing department/school whenever possible. Problems not resolved at the department/school level can be referred to the Graduate Student Appointment Grievance Board. See Ohio University Policy and Procedure 28.102, www.ohio.edu/policy/28-102.html

Registration Requirements

For fall, winter, and spring quarter:

• Students holding RA, GA, or TA appointments with a tuition scholarship must register for a minimum of 12 graduate hours.
• Students holding a GRS with partial tuition scholarship/stipend, Fellowship appointment with a tuition scholarship, or a tuition scholarship only must register for a minimum of 15 graduate hours.
• Students holding a service stipend only with no tuition scholarship must register for a minimum of one (1) graduate hour.

Courses numbered 500 or above carry graduate credit. Use care to register for the graduate level in dual numbered courses. Hours taken for Audit, Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) courses, and undergraduate courses cannot be used to meet the minimum graduate hour requirements. Some departments or schools may require registration for more hours.

Graduate Appointments and Federal Financial Aid Eligibility

Recipients of graduate awards in the form of assistantships (Graduate, Research, Teaching), tuition scholarships, and fellowships will be reported to the financial aid office by the Graduate College. All tuition scholarships will be included as part of the aid package when calculating federal need-based aid, if you are eligible. If you receive a loan for summer quarter and later receive a graduate scholarship, you may be considered over-awarded according to federal guidelines. To avoid an over-award, notify the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships of all additional resources (current and estimated, when possible).

Graduate students seeking continuation of stipend and scholarship support must follow all departmental policies and procedures pertaining to renewal of that support. Additionally, Graduate Council guidelines state that graduate students holding graduate appointments written for an academic year must receive notice of renewal or non-renewal of that appointment no later than the end of spring quarter. This provision does not apply to contracts terminated early or not renewed for academic or service performance reasons. In such cases, no prior notification is required.

Graduate students holding graduate appointments written on a quarterly basis must receive notice of renewal or non-renewal of contract at least one quarter before the end of that contract period. Graduate students holding spring quarter appointments must be notified no later than the end of the spring quarter of renewal or non-renewal for fall quarter. This provision does not apply to contracts terminated early or not renewed for academic or service performance reasons. In such cases, no prior notification is required. Notification of summer quarter appointments can be made as early as practicable.

The Graduate College does not use the number of subsidy hours to determine eligibility for a graduate tuition scholarship. Instead, eligibility for a tuition scholarship is based on the number of quarters in which a student has received such a scholarship at Ohio University. The rules set the MAXIMUM number of quarters in which a student could receive support. Colleges and programs may have more restrictive limitations than the university policy. The counting of quarters of eligibility does NOT include summer quarters. Any student who receives any tuition support from the University will be considered to have received a tuition scholarship.

A graduate level student with an awarded graduate level degree from another institution can receive no more than 15 quarters of tuition scholarship from any department or combination of departments.

A graduate level student without an awarded graduate degree from another institution or one who has earned a graduate degree from Ohio University can receive no more than 18 quarters of tuition scholarship from any department or combination of departments.

After a student has received the maximum number of quarters of tuition scholarship, that student will no longer be eligible to receive a tuition scholarship from any Ohio University program or department.

After a student has received the maximum number of quarters of tuition scholarship, that student could still receive a stipend without a tuition scholarship.

This limitation does not apply to employee fee waivers. 

U.S. Federal financial aid available to graduate students through the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships consists of loan assistance and employment opportunities.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive federal financial aid, you must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen (U.S. national or permanent resident) or other eligible noncitizen status.
2. Comply with U.S. Selective Service registration requirements.
3. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree-seeking program. Certification programs or preparatory coursework cases should be discussed with a financial aid administrator.
4. Graduate students must be enrolled at least half time (minimum of five graduate credit hours) per quarter. In certain circumstances, a student’s department may determine that a graduate internship or practicum that is required for a student’s degree is the equivalent of being enrolled half time. This definition of half-time enrollment must be used for all students in the same program and must be used for all student financial aid related purposes. A Graduate Internship/Practicum Verification Form must be completed by the department certifying the student’s eligibility.
5. Not be in default on a Federal Perkins Loan, a Federal Family Educational Loan (FFEL), Federal Direct Student Loan, or Federal Supplemental Loan for Undergraduate Students (SLS), from any school, agency, or lender, or owe repayment on any Title IV funds.

All Title IV federal aid recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the financial aid office and the University.

All federal aid recipients must comply with financial aid office procedures for adjusting over awards if the total federal aid received exceeds the financial need or cost of attendance.

Need-Based Assistance

To apply for need-based aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will be notified of your eligibility by the Ohio University Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. The need-based programs available to graduate students are: (1) the William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized Loan (Stafford), (2) the Federal Perkins Loan, and (3) Federal Work-Study (FWS). March 15 is the first-priority deadline date that has been set for consideration fothe Federal Perkins Loan and Federal Work-Study. The Federal Perkins Loan and Federal Work-Study are awarded differently than the Stafford Loans. The funds are sent directly to Ohio University to be awarded to the most needy students. Ohio University awards the funds directly, and funding for these programs is limited. Late applicants (after March 15) most likely will not receive awards for either the Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Work-Study.

Cost of Attendance

Each year, the Ohio University Board of Trustees determines the fixed costs (tuition and fees, plus an out-of- state surcharge, and room and board rates) for graduate students. Variable costs consist of books and supplies, transportation, personal, and miscellaneous expenses. Variable expenses are estimated and are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and biannual budget surveys. You must provide documentation in writing to the financial aid office for individual consideration. The combined fixed and variable costs make up your total cost (budget) for the academic year. Final annual budgets are available from the OSFAS after July 1 of each award year.

Determining Eligibility

Graduate students are considered independent. You (and your spouse, if you are married) are expected to assist in financing your educational costs. Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated from your previous year’s earnings, untaxed income, benefits, and a percentage of personal savings and assets. The following equation is used to determine financial need:

Cost of Attendance (Budget)

-  Minus Expected Family Contribution

= Calculated Financial Need

Award Package

After the FAFSA results and other documents have been received and reviewed for accuracy (verified if applicable), an award offer is made to all eligible applicants. The award package can be a combination of gift assistance (fellowships, scholarships, graduate teaching/ research assistantships, etc.), federal loans, and employment to offset costs.

Notification of Aid Offers

All applicants who are eligible for aid will receive notification from the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Award notification will be e-emailed to enrolled students and award information is available online at www.ohio.edu/financialaid. Certain students will have letters mailed to permanent or local addresses. If you are adjusting or declining any of the awards, you can do so through your online award letter, or you can return the award letter indicating the changes to the OSFAS. All awards are subject to revision because of changes in federal allocations, student eligibility (EFC), clerical errors, failure to provide requested documents, or other circumstances beyond our control.

Award Disbursements

Federal aid recipients must be officially enrolled in a degree-seeking program to receive any type of financial assistance. All requested documents (e.g., income tax returns and W-2s) used in verifying the data provided on the FAFSA must be received by the OSFAS before financial aid can be disbursed. Disbursement dates and procedures will vary depending on the type of awards offered. Specific dates and informtion regarding the disbursement of financial aid are listed in each quarter’s Schedule of Classes. In general, financial aid awards will be credited to your account each quarter. Total financial aid credits greater than the University charges will result in a refund being generated in the amount of the excess funds. Refunds will be mailed to your local address or direct deposited to your bank account to assist you in meeting other expenses related to your education. Overages (refunds) paid by direct deposit are processed on a daily basis, beginning on the first day of classes. Checks are mailed on Fridays once classes have begun.

Disbursement of funds will vary depending on the type of financial aid awards you have been offered. The Federal Perkins Loan requires a promissory note to be signed before the funds can be disbursed. Stafford Loans require a completed Electronic Master Promissory Note or online loan confirmation prior to disbursement of funds. Federal Work Study awards are not credited to your account because the award must be earned before being paid. You will receive a FWS payroll check every two weeks for the hours worked and approved by the hiring department for the pay period. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more detailed information concerning actual dates of disbursement for each quarter.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

Federal regulations require that all financial aid applicants meet Ohio University’s satisfactory academic progress standards: (1) minimum credit hours earned for the appropriate enrollment; (2) maximum time frame during which a degree or certificate must be granted; and (3) minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

Minimum credit hour standards require you to earn a minimum number of hours based on your enrollment status. As a graduate student, the minimum credit hours required are: full-time= nine credit hours, half-time=five credit hours. Maximum time frame standards (MTF) are determined by your enrollment status. Federal regulations allow a student to be eligible to receive aid up to 150% of the time that it normally would take to complete a degree. For graduate students to remain eligible, they must complete their program by the time their maximum time frame value reaches 216 hours. Once your MTF total reaches 216 hours, you are no longer eligible to receive Title IV and selected other types of financial assistance, regardless of periods during which you received no financial aid. Also, a 3.0 minimum grade point average must be met by the end of the second academic year (spring quarter) of enrollment.

Student loans are a significant source of financing postsecondary education. All loans, including student loans, represent debts that must be repaid; however, most student laons do not go in to repayment until after you graduate or cease half-time enrollment. In addition to delayed repayment, most student loans have relatively low interest rates, several repayment options from which to choose, circumstances under which you can postpone repayment, and other favoriable terms and conditions. Student loans can be thought of as an investment in your future as long as you are prepared to meet your repayment responsibilities. Failure to repay your student loans will have serious adverse consequences.

All applicants for federal student loans must file a FAFSA to determine their eligibility. More information about the different federal loan programs is available at the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships web site, www.ohio.edu/financialaid/loans/loans_about.cfm. Loan original fees apply.

If you are a first-time borrower, you will be required to complete Entrance Counseling regarding your rights and responsibilities. You also must complete exit counseling once nearing completion of your program or withdrawal from the University. Failure to complete your Exit Interview will result in a “HOLD” being placed on your grades, diploma, etc.

Federal Direct Student Loan (“Stafford Loan”). All students who complete the FAFSA and are eligible to be considered for financial aid may receive the Federal Direct Student Loan. This loan may be Subsidized, Unsubsidized, or a combination of both. A student’s eligibility is determined by the total cost of attendance, results of the FAFSA, and other financial aid resources.

Subsidized Loan:  The federal government pays the interest on this loan while you are in school at least half time, during your six month grace period after you leave school, and during any deferment periods. You must have financial need to qualify for this type of loan.

Unsubsidized Loan: You will be charged interest on this loan from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. You may allow interest to accumulate until repayment, at which time it will be capitalized. We encourage you to make quarterly interest payments, if possible. Financial need is not required to receive this loan.

Federal Perkins Loan. The Federal Perkins Loan is a federally funded low-interest loan. Ohio Univeristy is the lender using funds from the federal government and/or payments collected from previous borrowers. The interest rate on the Perkins Loan is five percent, and repayment starts nin months after you leave school or graduate. You must complete the FAFSA to apply for the Perkins Loan. In addition, you must have financial need in order to qualify.

Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan. The Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan is graduate students enrolled for at least five credit hours in a degree program. You must file a FAFSA, meet with a Student Financial Aid (SFA) Advisor to determine eligibility, and complete a Grad PLUS application. This loan requires a credit check. to apply. 

Short Term Loans

Ohio University Short Term Loans (STL) are institutional funds that are made available to students on a temporary basis to provide cash while waiting for disbursement of financial aid or earnings from employment. You must meet eligibility requirements and have a guaranteed source of repayment to receive a STL. You can obtain a STL application from the client services area of the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships or the Student Services Office at any of the regional campuses.

If you are in default on previous Ohio University loans or federal loans, you are not eligible to receive a new institutional loan. All borrowers are charged a $5 processing fee. Full details about the Short Term Loan program is available at www.ohio.edu/financialaid/loans/loans_stl.cfm.

Employment Opportunities

Centralized Student Employment Services (CSES) was established by Ohio University to provide job opportunity information for all students. This service assists in hiring students for part-time jobs, maximizes employment opportunities and job placement, and coordinates student employment policies and procedures.

The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships serves as an employment clearinghouse for job posting and referrals for all hiring departments at Ohio University. When new positions are available or vacancies occur, employment opportunities for students are posted on a jobs board located in the hallway near the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and at www.ohio.edu/financialaid under Employment.

Financial Aid Services

Services are available to students on a daily basis between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You also may choose to schedule an appointment with your counselor (counselor assignments are made alphabetically by your last name). Emergencies or schedule conflicts may be accommodated as needed. Some of the services provided by the counselor are confirmation of financial aid for preregistration, review of financial need and eligibility, and review of policies and procedures for different financial aid programs.

Federal regulations and institutional policies are subject to change without notice. The financial aid office will attempt to keep you updated through various media on campus, written notices, or e-mail. It is important that you update your permanent and local addresses with the Registrar’s Office and read your e-mail regularly to avoid delays that may be costly.

For more detailed information on financial aid programs, contact us: Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, Chubb Hall 020; telephone 740.593.4141 (8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.); fax 740.593.4140; e-mail financial.aid@ohio.edu.; Web www.ohio.edu/financialaid

Title IV Funds

You are a Title IV financial aid recipient if you receive a Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, or PLUS), Federal Perkins Load, or other federal financial aid. If you receive Title IV financial aid and withdraw from Ohio University, the amount of aid earned and unearned will be calculated using the Federal Return of Title IV Funds policy. This policy is a formula that measures the percentage of days enrolled during a quarter. The percentage is determined by dividing the number of days enrolled by the number of calendar days in the quarter, including weekends and holidays. Based on this percentage, Title IV financial aid will be prorated to reflect the amount of aid that was earned during the period of enrollment. The amount of aid that is earned will remain on your student account and the amount of aid that is unearned will be returned to the appropriate program. Once the attendance percentage reaches 60 percent, all Title IV aid is considered to be earned.

Unofficial Withdrawals

 If you stop attending the University and do not officially withdraw, it is considered to be an official withdrawal and will be subject to the above Withdrawal Policies. The date of withdrawal will be the latest date based on a student’s attendance at an academically related event. If the last date of attendance is not known, the midpoint of the quarter will be used as the withdrawal date. If you never attended all fo the courses you have registered for, you are considered to be an official withdrawal. It is determinied you have not earned any financial aid. Therefore, all aid will be returned to the appropriate program.

If you are receiving financial aid, a change in your enrollment status or your withdrawal from the Unviersity may result in you having to repay programs from which you received financial assistance. In addition, you may owe fees to the University after funds are returned to the financial aid programs.

A student is not eligible for a refund until all Federal Title IV programs and other grants and scholarships are reimbursed as required, and all outstanding balances with the University have been cleared.

Graduate Tuition Scholarships

An awarded tuition scholarship is withdrawn from the student’s account if the student withdraws within the first fifteen calendar days of the quarter. The student is responsible for the full 20% withdrawal assessment.

An awaraded tuition scholarship remains on the student’s account if the student withdraws after the first fifteen calendar days of the quarter. The student is still responsible for the balance of tuition and fees assessed, as well as any other charges incurred.

Any stiped is prorated to the date of withdrawal, based on work performed up to the withdrawal date.