The decision to further your education by pursuing a graduate degree is an investment in you and your future. Sarah Lawrence is here to help you navigate the process and help you identify possible sources of graduate education financing.
Before you get started, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the terms you’ll see when you begin to research the cost and benefits of a graduate degree.
Listed below are several potential options to explore for graduate funding opportunities. You can find detailed information about each of these options on our financial aid webpages.
Graduate Funding Opportunities
Sarah Lawrence College Institutional Aid
Sarah Lawrence College offers a number of highly competitive fellowships, scholarships and grants that vary by degree program. Fellowships, scholarships and grants are awarded at the time of admission to reflect recognition of previous academic or professional accomplishments. Many of these also require you to submit a FAFSA and/or financial documentation to be considered for the award. International students are required to submit translated documentation if the original documentation is not in English.
Federal Loans
Federal student loans are funds borrowed from the federal government for educational costs. A student loan is an obligation that must be repaid after you complete your degree, cease to be enrolled, or drop below half-time status. There are two federal loans available to graduate student who are US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents:
- Direct Unsubsidized Loan
- Graduate PLUS Loan
You must first file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using Sarah Lawrence’s school code.
We are also able to certify Canadian government loans. Canadian students should reach out to the Office of Financial Aid for more information.
Private Loans
After considering all the resources available through the Office of Financial Aid, some students need further assistance and choose a private loan. We strongly encourage you to discuss your financial situation with a financial aid professional prior to taking out any private education loan. We also recommend comparing the rates and payment plans of federal loans to those of private lenders – as well as between various lenders.
Outside Scholarships
Outside scholarships, fellowships, internships, and grants are often overlooked components of graduate educational funding. We always encourage our students to explore external scholarship opportunities.
Employment
Many Sarah Lawrence graduate students work on campus in a variety of positions across the college, including in Graduate Admissions, the Graduate Studies Office, within graduate programs, in the library, in Campbell Sports Center, and other offices across campus. Most campus jobs are 10-20 hours per week. Students can typically apply for these positions in the start of the school year, although there are jobs that become available throughout the year. The College also maintains an off-campus jobs board that lists open positions in the local area.