Financial Support - University of Pittsburgh School of Education

Many college students seek financial aid to support the cost of their tuition and related expenses. The federal government and private financial institutions offer loans to cover much, if not all, of the cost of your education, allowing you to gradually pay back the loan amount after you graduate.

All Students

Students wishing to apply for financial aid should complete the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The FAFSA becomes available each year on October 1. Students will use their FSA ID to sign their forms.

Undergraduate Students

Financial Aid for undergraduate students in the School of Education is processed in the University of Pittsburgh Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Graduate Students

Most graduate students pay for their education through student loans. Some graduate students also receive scholarships for their studies or may be chosen to work for the school in a teaching or research position, known as an assistantship. Scholarships and assistantships are very competitive and may not cover all costs. Federal and state grants are generally not available at the graduate level.

Learn more about financial opportunities for graduate students in the School of Education.

In addition to Pitt School of Education scholarships and grants, you can use the service PittFund$Me to be connected with scholarships relevant to you. As a current Pitt student, you can log into the site and the adaptive matching engine will display scholarship opportunities tailored to you.

Certificate Students

Students in certificate programs may be eligible for a Federal Direct Student Loan but not for Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans. The Federal Direct Student Loan maximum for a certificate program is $12,500, depending on the student’s previous borrowing history. Students in certificate programs are required to enroll at least half time to receive Federal Direct Loans. Students may contact the Financial Aid Office to determine remaining eligibility or can visit the National Student Loan Data System.

International Students

University policy holds that international students must provide evidence of their ability to fully fund their studies in the United States prior to acceptance. International students are not eligible for Federal Direct Student Loan funds or private alternative loan funds.