Graduate Financial Aid Options

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Fellowships

Many graduate departments at Georgia Tech offer fellowships to graduate students. To be considered for these awards, you must be nominated by your academic department. The Graduate Studies office provides helpful information about fellowships, assistantships, and other financial aid options.

Federal Direct Loans

Georgia Tech participates in the Direct Lending program, offering a streamlined, high-quality, cost-effective, and dependable loan option for students and families. The Federal Direct Loan Program provides the following loan options for graduate students:

Graduate Unsubsidized Direct Student Loans
Unsubsidized loans are federally guaranteed loans that are not based on financial need. Interest begins accruing as soon as the loan is disbursed to Georgia Tech. Students are not required to make payments until six months after graduation or if they drop below half-time enrollment. This is known as the "grace period."

  • Annual Loan Limit: $20,500 or the cost of attendance, minus any other financial aid or resources.

  • Aggregate Loan Limit: $100,000

Graduate PLUS Loan Updates
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025. Some of its provisions change Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans available to graduate students. The Act introduces significant changes to federal student aid programs, and while some provisions are clear, many others require further clarification from the U.S. Department of Education. As of the development of this webpage, these changes are scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2026.

Current Rules (before July 1st, 2026) Changes Effective July 1st, 2026

  • Annual Limit: Determined by the formula:
    Cost of Attendance – Other Aid = eligibility

  • Aggregate Limit: No limit

  • Eligibility is based on student enrollment and a minimal credit check of the applicant

    This program is to be eliminated for new borrowers.

  • Prior eligibility requirements will apply to legacy borrowers.

  • Legacy Provision: Students must also remain in the same academic program to be eligible for loans under this provision

Graduate PLUS Loan Frequently Asked Questions

Effective July 1, 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan for all students who had not borrowed a Direct Loan for the same academic program before that date. The law allows current borrowers to continue borrowing through Graduate PLUS for 3 years or until they complete their current academic program, whichever is shorter.

A legacy borrower is a current Georgia Tech student who has borrowed any Federal Direct Loan (i.e., Subsidized, Unsubsidized, or Graduate PLUS) before July 1, 2026. Borrowing a loan before July 1, 2026, means the loan was disbursed before that date.

No, you cannot be considered a legacy borrower because you are starting a new program after July 1, 2026.

Yes. There are three ways these borrowers can lose eligibility.

  1. Continuous Enrollment Requirement
    Legacy borrowers must be continuously enrolled. For example, legacy borrowers will lose eligibility to continue using the Graduate PLUS Loan program if they:

    • Take a fall or spring semester off

    • Begin enrollment in a fall or spring semester and withdraw partially through it

    Summer is excluded from the continuous enrollment requirement, so a borrower will not lose eligibility for not taking classes in the summer.

  2. Three Years of Eligibility
    Legacy borrowers can retain eligibility for the Graduate PLUS Loan for only 3 years after July 1, 2026, or for the remainder of their program of study, whichever is shorter.

  3. Changing Programs
    Legacy borrowers will lose eligibility if they change to a different graduate or professional program after July 1, 2026.

Our understanding is that a “year” is an academic year, not a calendar year.

The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan remains available for all graduate students.

Other loan options may be available through private/alternative loan lenders.

Current Federal Interest Rates

Interest Rates for Direct Loans First Disbursed on or After July 1, 2025, and Before July 1, 2026.

Loan Type Fixed Interest Rate
Direct Graduate Unsubsidized Loans 7.94%
Direct Graduate PLUS Loans 8.94%

Federal Student Debt Relief Plan

For more information on the federal student debt relief plan, please visit: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/debt-relief-info

Private Loans

Many private lending institutions offer loans to students seeking assistance to meet expenses related to attendance at Georgia Tech. There are an increasing number of private loans, and the terms of these loans change frequently.

Apply for Private Loans

Federal Work Study

Federal Work-Study (FWS) provides part-time jobs for graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.

At Georgia Tech, FWS is awarded to graduate students who enroll at least half-time and demonstrate financial need. FWS awards generally vary from $1,000 to $2,500 per semester and are earned during the period of enrollment. Students may work in an on-campus, off-campus, or in a community service position.

Advantages of participating in the FWS program include:

  • The money you earn helps to meet college expenses and will not be counted as income for your financial aid eligibility determination next year.
  • You get on-the-job experience to give you an edge in the job market after graduation.
  • You're able to work with accomplished professionals in their field, which provides you with valuable references in the future.

Apply for FWS

Explore FWS Options