Many full-time graduate students receive tuition and fellowship support from their departments. Part-time graduate students may be eligible for tuition benefits through their employers. Student loans and work-study options are available to help with tuition and personal expenses. This page is your go-to resource for everything you need to know about what types of aid Hopkins offers to our graduate students. Application specifics can be found on the overall Financial Aid page.
Scholarships
Some scholarships come directly from your graduate department, some you have to apply for separately through private sources. The university recommends that students apply for other scholarship and fellowship funds which may be available through outside sources: the state or federal government, private donors, and corporations.
Stipends
Graduate education is a significant personal and professional investment in your future. Johns Hopkins University supports its graduate students through a variety of mechanisms. In most Ph.D. programs, full-time students are fully-funded for a minimum of five years. During that time, students may receive a funding package that includes a twelve-month stipend to cover living expenses, full cost of tuition, and health insurance. Programs which are exceptions articulate their policies clearly on their own websites.
The major types of funding available to Ph.D. students are: fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships.
Loans
Loans are financial aid that must be paid back within a specified period of time after a student graduates, leaves college or falls below half-time enrollment. Hopkins participates in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. The U.S. Department of Education makes these loans, through Hopkins, directly to the student for educational expenses. There are two types of loans that graduate students can apply for: the Federal Unsubsidized Loan and Graduate PLUS Loan.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
Eligible, fully admitted graduate students may borrow up to a maximum total of $20,500 per academic year from the unsubsidized Direct Student Loan program. The origination fee for loans first disbursed on or after October 1st ,2020 and before October 1st, 2024; is 1.057%.” The origination fee may change based on congressional legislation. Interest begins accruing from the date of disbursement on an unsubsidized loan. The interest rate for 2023-2024 is 7.05%. The Direct Loans available to graduate students are unsubsidized, meaning that interest is charged on the loan starting from the disbursement date. You may choose to pay all, part, or no interest at all while enrolled. We encourage you to make interest payments while in school, if possible. You may view their loan history and information about their loan servicer at https://nslds.ed.gov. If you are a first-time borrower, you are required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling (EC) at studentloans.gov. Be sure to send your MPN and EC to the correct school code: E00473 (Johns Hopkins University – Arts, Sciences, and Engineering).
Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
This loan program is available to fully admitted graduate students (enrolled at least half-time) whose maximum federal loan eligibility is insufficient to cover their educational costs. A credit check is required. After submitting the FAFSA, you may apply for the Graduate PLUS loan by completing and submitting a Grad PLUS Loan Request for the appropriate school year at studentloans.gov. New Grad PLUS borrowers must also complete a Graduate PLUS Master Promissory Note on this website. The interest rate for 2023-2024 is 8.05%. An origination fee of 4.236% is deducted from loans first disbursed before October 1, 2020. The origination fee for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020, and before October 1, 20224, is 4.228%. If approved for a Grad PLUS loan, our office will add the award to your financial aid record. Revised awards will be available for review on your SIS account. If your Grad PLUS Loan is denied, you may still be eligible to re-apply using an endorser (co-signer). Information about this option will be sent to you from the Federal Direct Loan program. Some provisionally admitted students are eligible for loans at the undergraduate level. The chart below shows the annual amounts provisional students may qualify for.
| Provisional Student Loan Eligibility | Provisional A & B | Provisional C |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidized Eligibility | $5,500 | $0 |
| Unsubsidized Eligibility | $7,000 (if independent) | $20,500 |
Alternative Student Loans
Alternative loans (private loans) are credit based loans provided by lending or banking institutions to eligible students. Before you apply for an alternative loan, Hopkins recommends researching federal student loan programs as they may be more favorable to borrow. Hopkins does not endorse or promote any private educational loan lender. You may apply to any lender of your choosing and are responsible for comparing the terms of the loans you are considering. If you would like to learn more about supplemental loan funding, please review ELM Select. Johns Hopkins provides access to this interactive tool to help students better understand their private loan options.
Grants
Grants are gifts that do not have to be repaid. The amount of grant depends on your financial need. Note: Current recipients of the Bloomberg Scholarship and Hopkins Academic Success Award will continue to receive these awards for the remainder of their undergraduate career based on continued financial need.
State Aid
Students from the following states may be eligible for state grants or scholarships to help fund their education at Hopkins: Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Receipt of a state scholarship is contingent upon the decision of your state scholarship agency. Some states may require a separate scholarship application.
Maryland now offers a Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit for borrowers who have incurred at least $20,000 in student loan debt and have at least $5,000 in outstanding debt remaining.
Maryland residents who provide public service in Maryland State or local government or nonprofit agencies in Maryland to low-income or underserved residents may apply to the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP). The application deadline is November 30th of each year.
Tuition Waivers
Tuition Benefits often come in the form of direct grants or waivers to reduce or eliminate tuition and fees. Examples include employer benefits, military tuition assistance, and veterans education benefits.
State Tuition Assistance Reimbursement (STAR)
State Tuition Assistance Reimbursement (STAR) reimburses Maryland National Guard Service Members (SM) up to 100% of tuition and related fees, and is open to all Johns Hopkins University graduate and undergraduate students. Funding is capped at $8,500 per student per year, and subject to the availability of State funds.
Students must apply for both programs at least 10 days in advance of the start of class using the MDARNG app and email. If approved, the Maryland National Guard will notify Hopkins of your eligibility.
Additional Sources
Employer Tuition Benefits
Many employers offer tuition benefits, including tuition remission. Consult with your employer’s human resources office for more information.
Veterans Benefits
Johns Hopkins is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission for the training of veterans and the widows and children of deceased veterans under the provisions of the various federal laws pertaining to veterans’ educational benefits. Information about veterans’ benefits is available at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Hopkins participates in all veteran programs, including Yellow Ribbon and the Post 9/11 GI Bill.