TUITION AND FEE INFORMATION

The tuition rate for students enrolled in the Graduate School of Engineering for the 2008-2009 academic year are as follows:

Payment Methods

Discrepencies in Your Bill

Late Fees

Refund Policies

Refunds for Withdrawal

Tution Paid Directly by Employers or Other Third Party

Tution Reimbursement

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Northeastern University offers graduate students a variety of means of financial assistance. In addition to various types of assistantships awarded on merit by individual graduate schools and administrative offices, Student Financial Services administers several forms of financial aid.

Student Financial Services administers financial aid programs for graduate students, primarily in the form of loans, including Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Work Study, and Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. The financial aid application process can be rigorous and is strictly regulated. Comprehensive information is available at www.financialaid.neu.edu.

Stipended Graduate Assistantships

Full-time graduate students are eligible to apply for a variety of assistantships and fellowship programs. Awards are made based primarily upon the applicant’s prior academic performance. SGAs are typically awarded for two semesters starting in the fall and continuing through spring. SGAs earn a stipend and tuition remission for approved course work. In exchange, students must work twenty hours per week, through final exam week. SGA stipends are considered taxable income. There are two categories of SGA appointments:

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) are awarded to students who have a strong academic background and demonstrate an interest and proficiency in research. These appointments are typically funded by research grants made to faculty members by industry or governmental agencies. The duration of any GRA appointment is therefore contingent upon funding availability.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) are awarded by academic departments and are available to students with proficiency in teaching. These positions generally require the performance of teaching-related duties such as grading, conducting recitations and laboratories, and occasionally teaching undergraduate classes. GTAs are required to attend various training sessions and workshops sponsored by the College of Engineering and the University. In addition, GTAs who speak English as a second language must attend training sessions sponsored by the English Language Center.

Northeastern University Tuition Assistantships (NUTA) are awarded to well-qualified students to support faculty in teaching activities. In exchange for a 10-hour per week work commitment, NUTAs earn tuition remission for a maximum of eight semester hours of approved course work. The tuition remission is considered taxable income as it is compensation for work performed.

Fellowship programs are available on a limited basis and are very competitive. Most fellowship programs administered by the University are open only to United States citizens or permanent residents. Fellowships have no work requirement, and may provide a tuition waiver, a stipend, or a combination of both.

Note: and fellowships are considered a financial aid resource and may impact a student’s award as determined by the Graduate Student Financial Services Office.

FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

The Graduate Student Financial Services Office offers several types of assistance to graduate students, primarily in the form of loans. The Priority Filing Deadline is March 1, though students may apply later in the year. Even though students will not be awarded financial aid until they have been accepted into a degree-granting program, students should apply for aid before they have been offered admission to the graduate school to expedite the process. To be qualified for federal student aid, a student must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible degree granting program for a minimum of six credits; be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; not be in default on any federal loans or owe a refund of any federal funds; and complete the annual financial aid process.

The Graduate Student Financial Services Office requires that a student be enrolled in a minimum of six credits per semester to receive financial aid unless he/she is enrolled in a clinical practicum and/or doing a thesis/dissertation that is part of the program’s requirements. If a student drops below half-time status, he/she may become ineligible and have to return monies. Though international students are not eligible for federal government loans such as Federal Perkins and Federal Stafford loans, they may be eligible for private loans such as the Teri loan.

Northeastern University requires that all applicants for financial aid (including loans) file a FAFSA in order to be eligible for consideration. The Graduate School Financial Aid application is also required. Financial aid application forms are available from Student Financial Services, Northeastern University, 139 Richards Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, or online at www.financialaid.neu.edu/forms.php. For more information, contact the office at 617.373.5899, 617.373.5666 (Fax), 617.373.5714 (TTY). Students must apply for financial assistance annually.


Federal Perkins Loans, Health Professions Student Loans, and Nursing Student Loans
These federal loan programs carry a 5% interest rate during repayment. You must demonstrate financial need and meet Northeastern's priority filing date for consideration, as funds are limited. Northeastern serves as the lender, and the loan is made with government funds. Repayment is made to Northeastern.

For Perkins Loans, there is a 9-month grace period prior to repayment following graduation, withdrawal, or a drop below half-time status. The grace period is 12-months for Health Professions and Nursing Student Loans. Repayment on the loan is for a period of up to ten years with a minimum $50 monthly payment. The loan may be prepaid at any time without penalty.

To be eligible for the Health Professions Loan Program applicants must be enrolled full-time in the School of Pharmacy in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences. To the eligible for the Federal Nursing Student Loan applicants must be enrolled full-time in the School of Nursing in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences.

Federal Work-Study Program
A need-based federally subsidized program that provides jobs for undergraduate, graduate, and law students. Awards range from $500 to $2,100. Due to limited funding, you must apply by the priority filing deadline to be considered for a Work-Study award.

Federal Stafford Student Loans
This loan may be subsidized, unsubsidized, or a combination of both. With a subsidized loan, which is awarded based on financial need, the federal government pays interest that accrues while you are in school. The unsubsidized loan is not based on need; interest that accrues while in school must either be paid monthly or deferred and capitalized (added to the original loan balance). Loan eligibility is determined by the Office of Student Financial Services, but funds are provided by lenders.

The maximum annual loan totals are based upon your year of enrollment. For loans disbursed after July 1, 2007; Freshmen are eligible for $3,500; sophomores, $4,500; and middlers, juniors, and seniors, $5,500 (up to an aggregate maximum of $23,000). The annual maximum for graduate students is $20,500 ($8,500 subsidized and $12,000 unsubsidized) up to an aggregate of $138,500 ($65,500 subsidized and $73,000 unsubsidized); depending upon financial need the first $8,500 may be subsidized.

For loans disbursed after July 1, 2006, the interest rate is a fixed 6.8%. Loan funds are disbursed directly to Northeastern in equal amounts over each term of enrollment for the academic year. There is a 6-month grace period prior to repayment following graduation, withdrawal, or a drop below half-time status. See the section entitled Loans-Repayment for additional information on repayment options.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarships. A limited number of full-time Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarships are available. These scholarships pay the recipient’s full tuition and general fees during the course of satisfactory graduate work. Further information and applications are available at the African-American Institute, Northeastern University, 40 Leon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 617.373.4911, www.aai.neu.edu/.

A limited number of residence staff positions in housing facilities are available each year. Appointments carry a minimum compensation of room and board. Further information may be obtained from the Office of Residential Life and Education, Northeastern University, 6 Speare Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, or online at www.housing.neu.edu