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  • Before You Borrow: Know What Lenders See & How Graduate Borrowers Compare

    Before You Borrow: Know What Lenders See & How Graduate Borrowers Compare

    November 5, 2025
    Uncategorized

    As the Federal Grad PLUS Loan program sunsets in 2026, graduate and professional students will face an unprecedented shift: private lenders will play a much larger role in funding advanced degrees. For the first time in decades, borrowing for graduate school will depend not just on enrollment and need—but on credit strength and borrower profiles. Understanding what lenders…

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  • Repayment Strategies: Short vs. Long Graduate Student Loan Terms

    Repayment Strategies: Short vs. Long Graduate Student Loan Terms

    October 29, 2025
    Uncategorized

    When it comes to repaying graduate or professional school loans, one of the most important choices you’ll make is how long to take to pay them off. The loan term you select — whether short or long — directly affects your total interest cost, monthly budget, and overall financial flexibility. Below we explore the pros…

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  • Credit Matters: Preparing Your Credit Score for Graduate School Borrowing

    Credit Matters: Preparing Your Credit Score for Graduate School Borrowing

    October 14, 2025
    Uncategorized

    With the elimination of the Federal Grad PLUS Loan in 2026, graduate and professional students will face a new financial landscape. For the first time in decades, many will rely primarily on credit-based private loans rather than guaranteed federal borrowing. Unlike the Grad PLUS program—which approved nearly all applicants with no major derogatory credit—private lenders…

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  • Graduate Student Scholarships and Fellowships: Hidden Resources Beyond Loans

    Graduate Student Scholarships and Fellowships: Hidden Resources Beyond Loans

    September 29, 2025
    Grad Funding Options

    When many students think about paying for graduate school, loans are often the first solution that comes to mind. But graduate student scholarships and fellowships can provide powerful alternatives—helping you reduce debt while opening doors to research, travel, and professional networks. If you’re looking for graduate scholarships beyond student loans, here’s how to find them, what types…

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  • How to Appeal for More Financial Aid as a Graduate Student

    How to Appeal for More Financial Aid as a Graduate Student

    September 17, 2025
    Grad Funding Options

    Paying for graduate school can be a challenge, especially with rising tuition costs and limited federal loan options. If your initial financial aid package isn’t enough, you may be able to initiate an appeal and request additional funds. Many graduate students don’t realize that aid packages aren’t always final—there’s a process to ask for reconsideration. A well-documented,…

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  • Cosigners and Graduate Student Loans: When You Need One and When You Don’t

    Cosigners and Graduate Student Loans: When You Need One and When You Don’t

    September 11, 2025
    Grad Student Loan, Graduate Student Financial Literacy

    For many graduate and professional students, borrowing is part of the equation when financing tuition and living costs. One common question is: do graduate student loans require a cosigner? The answer depends on the type of loan, your credit profile, and the lender. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans never require a cosigner, but many private student loans may—especially…

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  • Working While in Grad School: Balancing Income, Experience, and Academic Success

    Working While in Grad School: Balancing Income, Experience, and Academic Success

    September 8, 2025
    Grad Funding Options

    Graduate school can be a rewarding but financially demanding journey. With rising tuition costs and changes to federal loan programs like the elimination of Grad PLUS (learn more), many students are rethinking how to pay for their degrees. The good news? There are several part time work options for graduate students that provide income, professional development, and flexibility. In…

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  • Graduate School Funding Checklist: What to Do Before You Borrow

    Graduate School Funding Checklist: What to Do Before You Borrow

    September 5, 2025
    Grad Student Loan, Graduate Student Financial Literacy

    Graduate and professional students face a new financial reality with the elimination of the Federal Grad PLUS Loan. Without it, the path to paying for graduate school requires more planning and a careful balance of attainable, sustainable, and adaptable funding strategies. Before signing any loan agreement, take time to walk through this checklist so your graduate funding…

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  • Decision-Making and Tradeoffs:  Making Informed Graduate Student Funding Options Choices

    Decision-Making and Tradeoffs: Making Informed Graduate Student Funding Options Choices

    September 3, 2025
    Graduate Student Financial Literacy

    Choosing how to fund graduate school isn’t just about covering tuition—it’s about being capable of shaping your academic life, empowering your goals, and enabling your future. Your funding decisions are powerful—they make your success more attainable, your journey more sustainable, and your freedom more tangible. Graduate school funding isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. The way you finance your journey—whether through…

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  • Graduate Student Funding Options: What Every Student Needs to Know

    Graduate Student Funding Options: What Every Student Needs to Know

    August 23, 2025
    Grad Funding Options

    Choosing how to fund graduate school isn’t just about covering tuition—it’s about being capable of shaping your academic life, empowering your goals, and enabling your future. Your funding decisions are powerful—they make your success more attainable, your journey more sustainable, and your freedom more tangible. Graduate school funding isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. The way you finance your journey—whether…

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Grad Funding Options

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Awareness of Policy Change Survey

This quick survey helps us understand how graduate and professional students are learning about the elimination of Federal Grad PLUS loans, and how confident they feel about the changes.


Where did you first hear about this change?