U.S. Citizens and Residents

Applicants who are applying for financial aid must indicate this on their admissions application. Applications for need-based PennDesign grants, as well as federal loans and work-study are made on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form which should be filed as soon as possible after January 1, 2010 (not before). We encourage you to file the FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Penn's Federal School Code is 003378. After the FAFSA has been filed and application materials have been received by the Office of Admissions, the applicant will be reviewed for all possible forms of financial aid for which he/she is eligible.

PH.D. STUDENTS
Students enrolled in the Ph.D. programs are expected to be either fully supported by outside sources or must be fully funded by their Departments. Full funding in the form of a University Fellowship is available to a very limited number of entering students.

Fontaine Fellowships
The Fontaine Fellowships are awarded to minority students pursuing full-time study toward the Ph.D. degree and who are American citizens. The Fontaine Fellowship, in combination with department and school resources, provides stipend, tuition, and general fees for at least three years. Fontaine Fellows are nominated by the Dean of the School. For more information, visit www.upenn.edu/grad/fontainewb/.

McNair Scholarships
The McNair Scholars Program provides funding to mount activities to support the graduate school aspirations of eligible undergraduates. Participants are selected on the basis of merit and career interest; two thirds of the students must be first-generation college students and meet financial need criteria; one third of the positions are designated for students from "underrepresented" minority groups. If you would like more information about the program, please see the Council of Graduate Schools web site at www.vpul.upenn.edu/aap/mcNairScholars_home.html.

NEED-BASED FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AT PENN
You will be considered eligible for the following if an evaluation of your financial aid forms indicates that you need financial aid and if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Federal Stafford Loan (Subsidized/Unsubsidized)
This program is available to full-time and half-time students who are U.S citizens or permanent residents. Students are expected to meet the first $8,500 of their need by borrowing under this program. Eligibility for the subsidized portion of the loan is determined by the FAFSA form. Full-time students may borrow up to $20,000 per academic year; this amount includes up to $8,500 subsidized Stafford loan and $12,000 unsubsidized.

Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Perkins Loan of up to $3,000 may be granted by Student Financial Services to graduate students who demonstrate exceptional need. Student Financial Services will notify you if you are eligible.

Federal Work-Study
Federal work-study awards of up to $3,000 are granted by Student Financial Services. The arrangement permits students to earn money in part-time jobs while attending school. This is a federal program based on financial need and is available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

ALTERNATIVE LOAN PROGRAMS
Students whose full need cannot be met by school grants, Federal loans and work-study are eligible for alternative education loans. For the most updated information about alternative loans, please visit Student Financial Services' information page at http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/loans/lenders-graduate-alternative.htm.

OPTIONAL LOAN PROGRAMS
Federal Graduate PLUS Loan Program (GradPLUS)
The GradPLUS Loan, offered by many lenders, is a fixed rate loan available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are enrolled at least half-time and who do not have a negative credit history. Students may borrow up to the cost of education less any other financial aid, including maximum Stafford eligibility. There is a 3% origination fee.

OTHER SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID
Because it is not possible to offer financial aid applicants full support through School of Design grants, scholarships, and assistantships, we recommend that applicants look into alternative options as described below. These resources, when added to loans and personal resources, can help make up the difference required to meet the expenses of graduate study.

Grants and Foundations
Applicants and students are encouraged to apply for other non-University fellowships and grants from local, national, international, industrial, or foundation sources for which they may be eligible. Since application due dates vary widely, research into these sources should be done as soon as possible. Information on these fellowships are available in most college libraries, undergraduate financial aid offices or through such references as the Annual Register of Grant Support, the National Directory of Grants & Aid in the Arts/International, the Guide to Corporate Giving in the Arts or through undergraduate financial aid offices. The Internet also has a variety of guides such as http://www.finaid.org or www.fastweb.com.

WORK PROGRAMS
Resident Assistants
The Residential Life Staff actively recruits single and married graduate students who can make positive contributions to undergraduate life. It seeks men and women who are at ease with a variety of life styles and who, as members of the resident community, will be interested and involved in the changing undergraduate environment and experience. Remuneration includes a furnished room and, in some cases, a cash stipend. For applications and further information, write to: Office of Residential Life, 3901 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6180 or email living@pobox.upenn.edu.

Employment
All students in the School of Design are required to be full-time participants in order to receive their awarded financial aid. Although students may be employed either on or off campus, it is not advised that they work more than fifteen to twenty hours per week. International students entering under F-1 visas are permitted to work on campus but are prohibited by law from having employment off campus.