We assist you with applying for graduate student loans from federal and private sources.
Most forms of financial support for graduate students are granted by individual academic departments. Graduate students who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for all federal and private loan programs.
International students may borrow from private sources, but not from U.S. federal programs.
How to apply
All students who wish to take out an education loan need to complete the Graduate Information Finance Form on the MIT Online Financial Aid System.
To apply for federal loans, you will need to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
Federal loans
Direct Unsubsidized Loan (U.S. grad students)
A federal low-interest student loan available to graduate and professional students who do not qualify for a maximum Federal Direct Loan.
Direct Grad PLUS Loan (U.S. grad students)
A federal low-interest loan for U.S. graduate and professional students. You must be enrolled at least half time, pass a standard credit check, and may not be in default on a prior education loan to be eligible. The maximum annual loan limit is the cost of education minus financial aid received—there is no aggregate limit. Visit Federal Student Aid for detailed information.
Current interest rates →Federal loan forgiveness program
Note: On November 10, 2022, a court order blocked the Federal Student Loan Debt Relief program. Please visit studentaid.gov to stay up-to-date with the latest information.
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The student debt relief is a one-time, pandemic-related loan cancellation provided by the Department of Education for federal student aid borrowers. The relief includes current students and borrowers who have federally-held undergraduate, graduate, and Parent PLUS loans that have been fully disbursed by June 30, 2022.
The application for student loan cancellation is now open and can be accessed through the Federal Student Aid website. Eligible borrowers will have until December 31, 2023, to submit their application for loan forgiveness.
You may check your student aid history, including loan balances and Pell Grant recipient status, by logging in to your federal student aid account on studentaid.gov.
For more information on the student debt relief plan, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.
Private loans
These are student and parent loans made from third-party lenders. Only consider a private education loan if your federal eligibility is exhausted. The terms and conditions of private loans, including interest rates, are often less favorable. We have put together a short guide with basic information that may be helpful as you consider whether private loans are right for you.
Contact us if you have questions. Before certifying any private loan that you may take out, our loan counselors will connect with you directly to discuss the implications and terms of the loan.
Loans not based on need
You may apply for non-need-based loans, and there are no financial guidelines to qualify. Just keep in mind that the total of all of your funding cannot exceed the price of attending MIT.
Computer purchases
When you take out a loan for your educational expenses, the amount you can borrow is based on the cost of attendance. For first time loan borrowers, MIT includes a $2,000 allowance for a computer. This allows you to take out a bit more in order to purchase a computer if you need one.
If taking out a loan creates a credit on your student account, you may request a refund and put it towards your computer.
Loaner laptops
If you need to borrow a laptop while your computer order is being processed/shipped, please visit the IS&T website to request a short-term loaner laptop.