Federal Loans
Like undergraduate students, graduate students at WSC may be eligible for financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Graduate students are considered for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and do not qualify for Direct Subsidized Loans. In almost all cases, graduate and professional students are considered independent students and do not have to provide their parents' tax information on the FAFSA.
Grad students may also apply for a Grad PLUS Loan, which allows you to borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance received. After you apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan, a credit check will be performed. If you have an adverse credit history and are denied the loan, you can obtain an endorser (cosigner) or appeal the denial.
To be eligible for federal loans
- You must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- You must be enrolled at least half-time (5 credit hours per semester for a master's degree program; 6 credit hours per semester for a second undergraduate degree or endorsement program).
- Credit hours must be for approved coursework that applies to your program of study.
Loan repayment begins six months after you leave school or cease to be enrolled at least half-time.
Graduate Assistantships
Wayne State is authorized to award Graduate Assistantships in each major graduate field. These assistantships provide a stipend for the academic year, plus tuition, and permit the holder to enroll for no more than 9 credit hours of graduate coursework while completing a teaching or non-teaching assignment.
The load for a student assigned to an academic area will be:
- teaching the equivalent to 6 credit hours at the undergraduate level, or
- providing non-teaching program assistance, approximately 16-20 clock hours, or
- completing an equivalent combination of teaching and non-teaching assignments. The load for a student assigned to a non-academic area will be determined by the appropriate vice president.
Consideration for Graduate Assistantships is given only to applicants who plan to earn the graduate degree at Wayne State. Candidates must have an above-average scholastic record and appropriate recommendations. Prior teaching experience is preferred.
Applications for the assistantships must be submitted to Human Resources by April 1 for the following school year. The assistantships awarded for the following year will be announced during the spring semester.
View open Graduate Assistant jobs
Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military Tuition Assistance
If you need assistance paying for college, the Military Tuition Assistance (TA) Program may help lighten your financial load. If you qualify, your service branch pays tuition directly to Wayne State College and can be used for undergraduate and graduate programs, either online or on campus.
VA Education Benefits
VA education benefits help veterans, service members, and their qualified family members with needs like paying college tuition, finding the right school or training program, and getting career counseling. Learn how to apply for and manage the education and training benefits you’ve earned.