JHU Student Financial Services | Graduate Students

How to Apply • PIN Numbers • Who is Eligible? • Financial Need • Aid Renewal

Who May Apply | Graduate Students

Any enrolled or accepted graduate student who is either a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen may apply for federal and state financial aid. You may be required to provide documentation of proof of citizenship or residency status. You must be enrolled at least half-time to receive federal funding.

How to Apply (Top)

You may apply for federal financial aid by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is a federal form used by the Office of Student Financial Services to determine your eligibility for aid. Graduate students are considered independent for federal financial aid purposes. You may obtain a paper FAFSA at the Office of Student Financial Services. You can also file the FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. If you filed a FAFSA in the previous academic year, you should have received your federal PIN Number in the mail. You can use your PIN Number to file a Renewal FAFSA on the web.

Graduate applicants are required to complete all student sections of the FAFSA, including information about spouse (if applicable). The code number for Hopkins University is E00473; be sure to list that on the FAFSA as a recipient of your data.

In addition to the FAFSA, the following items are required to complete your financial aid application:

• A Johns Hopkins Graduate Student Application for Financial Aid (available through the Office of Student Financial Services). You may also access the application on the web at http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/elecserv/.

• If you are selected for verification by the federal processor, a copy of your prior year federal tax return, including all pages, and W-2 forms, will be required. If you did not file a tax form, you must complete the non-filing statement on the Hopkins financial aid application.

NOTE: You may check the status of your application on-line at http://www.jhu.edu/~finaid.

No federal or state financial aid will be awarded to you until all documents have been received and your application for aid is complete. Aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis; do not endanger your eligibility by a late application.

What is a PIN number and How Do I Obtain a PIN? (Top)

Your Department of Education PIN serves as your personal identifier, and allows you to access your aid information on various Department websites. These include the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) where you can view a history of your federal financial aid, as well as Direct Loan servicing and consolidation sites. The PIN also serves as your electronic signature on the FAFSA or renewal FAFSA.

It's fast and easy to apply for a PIN number. Simply access the website at http://www.pin.ed.gov/ and choose "Apply for a PIN." Once you have submitted your name, social security number, date of birth, and mailing address, the Central Processing System will confirm the information with the Social Security Administration database. After a successful match, a PIN will be generated and a PIN mailer will be sent to you. You should receive the PIN mailer within 7–10 business days of your request.

If you had a PIN previously, you can change it or apply for a new one at the website pin website listed above.

Who is Eligible for Federal Aid? (Top)

The funds administered by the Office of Student Financial Services are awarded on the basis of financial need as demonstrated by a federal formula that considers your available income and assets. The Office of Student Financial Services also takes these other factors into consideration:

• Students must be enrolled in a program leading to a degree or certificate. Degree candidates must be enrolled at least half-time (six credits or two courses per semester, not including audited courses). If you drop below half-time status during the semester, your aid may be canceled.

• Students must not be in default on a Federal Direct or Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, or owe a refund for a Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) at any institution. Students whose loans were dismissed because of bankruptcy are considered to be in default and are not eligible for federal aid.

• Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the university. A student who is concerned about his/her course record may examine it at any time in the Registrar's Office in Garland Hall. Academic departments and program committees will inform students of their standing twice a year. If you are placed on probation, the Office of Student Financial Services will be notified. You may be allowed to retain your financial aid on a probationary basis for one semester.

Citizenship Documentation (Top)

You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to apply for federal student financial aid.

When an applicant completes the FAFSA, the processor matches the student's name, social security number, and date of birth with the Social Security Administration database (for U.S. citizens) and with the Department of Homeland Security database (for eligible non-citizens). If the match with either database confirms citizenship or permanent resident status, no further documentation is required. However, if the match does not confirm the student's status, the applicant will be required to provide documentation.

One of the following is required to document U.S. citizenship:

A copy of a birth certificate showing that the student was born in the United States
A copy of a U.S. passport
A State Department document showing birth of a U.S. citizen abroad (FS240, FS545, DS1350)
A certificate of citizenship through a U.S. parent (N560, N561)
A certificate of naturalization (N550, N570)

One of the following is required to document status as a U.S. permanent resident:

A Permanent Resident Card (formerly Resident Alien Card) - I-551 (older version I-151 should have been replaced with I-551 but may be accepted)
An I-94 document that has been stamped "processed for I-551" and has an expiration date valid through the academic year

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements (Top)

For continuation of federal student financial aid, you must be making satisfactory academic progress toward your degree as defined by the University's academic standards. A full-time graduate student must be determined to be in academic good standing following an annual departmental review.

Financial Need (Top)

Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance at the institution and the student's available resources. These resources include the student’s expected contribution as determined by the federal formula, (which evaluates income and assets, family size, and the number in college), and any other financial assistance. Other assistance includes sources such as outside scholarships or loans, and tuition benefits provided by an academic department or employer.

Renewal of Aid (Top)

Students are required to apply for aid each year. The entire aid application process must be completed each academic year. Aid is NOT automatically renewed each year. Refer to the calendar for application deadlines.

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