Outside Financial Aid

Regardless of your intention to seek merit-based funding eligibility, we strongly encourage you to consider outside sources of funding. Applicants with financial need are encouraged to make timely applications for external financial support, even if they have not yet been notified about SSP financial aid decisions. Deadlines for many independently sponsored fellowships are often as early as October or November of the year before a student intends to matriculate.

Resources for International Applicants

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens should apply for awards offered by their governments or by governmental and private agencies in the United States or elsewhere. In most cases, international students are not eligible to apply for federal student loan programs. When searching for outside funding, EducationUSA is an invaluable resource for international students researching funding opportunities. EducationUSA has in-country offices in many countries or regions around the world and representatives willing to work with students to answer their funding questions.

U.S. Federal Aid for Domestic Applicants

Federal Loans

SSP applicants can apply for federal loans by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants should submit their FAFSA to the Office of Student Financial Services once they have opened an application with the Office of Graduate Admissions. Additional information about loans can be found at the Office of Student Financial Services website.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

The PSLF Program is a U.S. government program intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue to work full-time in public service jobs. Under this program, borrowers may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance of their Direct Loans after they have made 120 qualifying payments on those loans while employed full time by certain public service employers. A majority of SSP graduates go on to public service careers, primarily with the U.S. Federal Government, meaning that they are eligible for this program. Additional information about the PSLF program can be found on the Federal Student Aid website.

Finding Outside Funding

Scholarship Search Resources

Past applicants have found these resources helpful as they seek additional graduate school funding.