2006-2007 Financial Aid Information
for Graduate and Certificate Students 

Departmental Awards || California State Aid || Federal Loans

General Information

Prospective or continuing graduate students who would like to apply for financial aid may need to contact both the M Center and the Graduate Studies Office at Mills, since the College's graduate financial aid program falls into two categories.

The M Center administers student loan and California state programs. Graduate students are not eligible for campus work-study positions. Graduate students seeking part-time or other employment opportunities are encouraged to utilize the off-campus job listing services of the Mills Career Center in Cowell Center. All other aid, including departmental assistantships and alumnae scholarships, is administered by the Graduate Studies Office in consultation with the academic department in which the graduate student is or will be enrolled.

Loan programs are available to students who are enrolled at least half time in a degree or certificate program. Half-time status for graduate students at Mills is 1.0 course credit per semester. Generally, graduate students receiving departmental assistance must be enrolled full time. In certain circumstances, this requirement may be waived.

Departmental Awards

Each graduate department has responsibility for selecting recipients for its own departmental awards. These include assistantships, alumnae scholarships, and special departmental awards. In addition, some graduate programs have other specific scholarships or awards to offer. The Graduate Studies Office has a list of resources regarding outside grant and scholarship opportunities. Departmental award information is included in the Graduate Catalog; you may also call the Graduate Studies Office at 510.430.3305 or e-mail grad-studies@mills.edu. Entering graduate students indicate that they wish to be considered for alumnae scholarships or assistantships by checking the appropriate box(es) on the last page of the graduate admission application form.

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California State Funding Opportunities

Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program Benefit

Students who received Cal Grants as undergraduates within the last 15 months may qualify for an additional year of funding while pursuing a teaching credential. Eligible students are required to submit both a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which benefits are requested and the “Request for Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program Benefits” form. Both documents are available from the M Center.

Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE) for K-12 Teachers

This program for teacher credential candidates provides loan assumption benefits of up to $19,000 in return for service in critical teacher shortage areas in California public elementary and secondary schools. Information on this program is available from the M Center.

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Federal Stafford Loans

There are two government loans available to Mills graduate and certificate students: the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan and the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Both loan programs are administered by the M Center. The maximum annual amount a master's degree student may borrow on the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan is $8,500 ($5,500 annual maximum for Certificate programs and students admitted as Graduate Probationary). Students needing additional loan assistance may also borrow through the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program.

How to Apply for Federal Stafford Loans

Applications filed after the published deadline will be accepted. However, priority for determining student loan eligibility will be given to students who meet these deadlines.

Forms Required:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Application Deadlines:

NOTE: Students who will not be enrolled in a master's degree program at Mills are considered to be 5th year undergraduates for purposes of government student aid and must fill out the 2006-2007 FAFSA accordingly. Such students must respond to the FAFSA Item #23 by entering "5" in the box and respond to item #49 by indicating "NO". This requirement includes students in the following programs:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Certificate Program
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Computer Science
• Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program

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Loan Eligibility Notification

Once the FAFSA is received by the federal processor, the results will be forwarded to Mills, where loan eligibility can be determined by the M Center. This office will send a Financial Aid Award letter to the student, along with instructions for the completion of a Federal Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note and/or a Stafford Loan Request Statement. The student's enrollment deposit must be paid before a government loan application can be certified for a student's enrollment.

First-time Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan borrowers and Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan borrowers at Mills College must complete online loan entrance counseling before a Stafford Loan can be certified. Instructions for the completion of this requirement will be mailed with the student's financial aid award letter.

Loan Eligibility Requirements

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans and Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are made by banks, savings and loan institutions, and credit unions in cooperation with participating schools and state (or other) agencies.

To qualify, applicants must meet all six of the following federal and state eligibility requirements:

1. Be a United States citizen/national, permanent resident, or an eligible non-citizen;
2. Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, on at least a half-time basis (1 graduate course credit at Mills) in a degree or certificate program at an institution approved for loan program participation;
3. Be a California resident attending an eligible school or be a resident of another state attending an eligible school located in California;
4. Be making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid as determined by that school's policies;
5. Not be in default on any educational loan and does not owe a refund on any state or federal educational grant;
6. Be able to demonstrate a financial need for this loan as determined by a financial need analysis using the Federal Methodology (Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan only).

NOTE: In the case of the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan program, the loan may be used to replace some or all of a computed family contribution.

Prepared by the M Center, this information is current as of May 2006.

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