Departmental Assistance | Federal and State Aid
Rules and Regulations

Federal and State Aid

General Information
Student Loans
State Loan Assumption Program
Work-Study

General Information
The M Center at Mills College awards Federal Direct Stafford Loans to graduate students who qualify based on the results of their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Departmental assistance is determined by each individual department in conjunction with the M Center. Recipients may accept or reject any portion of the offer.

In 2010–11, over 80 percent of Mills graduate students received some portion of their aid directly from the College. Ninety percent of our graduate students received more than $16.7 million in aid in 2010–11. An installment payment plan also is available to assist students in meeting educational expenses.

The academic program, in conjunction with the M Center, awards institutional aid each spring for those who are admitted for the upcoming fall semester. Financial aid decisions for the spring semester are made later in the year. Applications from continuing students are reviewed once spring grades have been submitted to ensure students have met the financial aid satisfactory academic progress standards.

Need-based financial aid is renewed on the basis of financial need and satisfactory academic progress. In rare cases, merit is also considered. A financial aid application must be filed each year in which renewal is requested. Merit-based financial aid is renewed on the basis of merit only.

Recipients of financial aid may be required to submit income verification, income tax forms, or other documents that confirm income sources and amounts. The number of semesters of eligibility for entering graduate students is established by the initial graduation date defined by their program requirements upon entrance to Mills. Financial aid eligibility continues only to this expected date of graduation.

Eligibility
Eligibility for need-based financial aid depends on a student's financial need, which is defined as the difference between estimated expenses and estimated resources. Financial need for each applicant is determined after a careful review of the information submitted as part of the financial aid application.

In establishing eligibility, expenses related to attendance are considered: tuition, fees, room, and board payable to the College, plus allowances for books, supplies, personal expenses, transportation, and/or loan fees. Living expenses are considered in determining financial need for commuters, but the Mills award will not cover the often higher costs of living off campus.

Federal Verification Process
Federal verification is a process mandated by the federal government in which students and/or parents are required to provide secondary documentation to support data reported on the FAFSA. Approximately 30 percent of students are selected by the federal government for this verification review and are notified of their selection on their Student Aid Report (SAR).

Students selected for federal verification are required to submit to Mills a signed copy of the student's prior year federal tax return (and parents' prior year federal tax returns if the student is dependent and provided parent data on the FAFSA). Students must also complete either a dependent or independent verification worksheet based on their status as determined upon completion of the FAFSA. These forms are available on the Mills College financial aid website. The tax forms and the Federal Verification Worksheet should be submitted to the M Center within 30 days of the request date. Failure to submit the requested documentation will result in the withdrawal of the student's financial aid award for the academic year. Students will be notified by email if their financial aid award changes as a result of the verification process.

back to top

Federal Direct Stafford Loans
There are two types of Federal Direct Stafford Loans available to Mills graduate and certificate students: the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan and the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Both programs are administered by the M Center.

To be considered for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, a student must be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen, must not be in default on a federal student loan or must have made satisfactory arrangements to repay it, and must not owe a refund on a federal student grant or must have made satisfactory arrangements to repay it. The student also must be enrolled at least half time in an eligible program and must maintain satisfactory academic progress for financial aid.

Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans are low-interest loans available to college students with demonstrated financial need.  The annual borrowing limit is $8,500 for graduate students enrolled in a master's degree or doctoral degree program. For students enrolled in an eligible certificate program, the annual borrowing limit is $7,500 for dependent students and $12,500 for independent students.

This loan program has a deferment provision so that no repayment of the loan is required while the student is enrolled at least half time at an eligible postsecondary institution. The federal government will pay the in-school interest which accrues on the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan as long as the borrower is enrolled at least half time in an eligible degree or certificate program.

Repayment begins six months after the borrower graduates or is no longer enrolled at least half time at an eligible postsecondary institution. For all Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2010, the loan origination fee is 1 percent.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available to students who do not qualify for the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan or to students who want an additional loan to supplement the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan. For graduate students enrolled in a master's or doctoral degree program, the annual borrowing limit is $20,500 less the amount of the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan for which the student qualifies. For independent students enrolled in an eligible certificate program, the annual borrowing limit is $12,500 less the amount of the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan for which the student qualifies.

A student does not have to demonstrate financial need for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan except to the extent that total financial aid, including the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, cannot exceed the student's cost of attendance for the given academic year. Unlike the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan Program, the government does not pay the interest while the student is in school, and the borrower has the option to make regularly scheduled interest payments while in school or agree to have the interest added to the principal. No repayment of the principal is required while the student is in school at least half time at an eligible postsecondary institution or during grace or deferment periods. Regular monthly payments begin six months after the student graduates or is no longer enrolled at least half time at an eligible postsecondary institution. For all Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2010, the loan origination fee is 1 percent.

How to Apply
Applications filed after the published deadline will be accepted. However, priority for determining student loan eligibility will be given to students who meet the following deadlines.

Form Required:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Priority Financial Aid Application Deadlines:

• February 1 for fall admission
• November 1 for spring admission

Note: Students who will not be enrolled in a master's or doctoral degree program at Mills are considered to be fifth-year undergraduates for purposes of federal student aid and must complete their FAFSA accordingly. This requirement includes students in the following programs:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Certificate Program
• Post-baccalaureate Certificate Program in Computer Science
• Post-baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program

Loan Eligibility Notification
Once the FAFSA is received by the federal processor, the results will be forwarded to Mills, where loan eligibility can be determined by the M Center. An email notification will be sent to the student indicating that the financial aid award is ready to be viewed in myMILLS via the Mills Resource Portal.

First-time Federal Direct Stafford Loan borrowers at Mills College must complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and a Federal Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note. Both requirements can be completed online at www.studentloans.gov. Upon leaving Mills College, borrowers must complete online Exit Loan Counseling at www.studentloans.gov.

back to top

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
A student enrolled in a master's or doctoral degree program may also apply for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan after accepting the maximum annual amounts for which the student qualifies in Federal Direct Stafford Loans. Students may borrow up to the total cost of attendance minus the amount of Federal Direct Stafford Loans and other aid received. To qualify, a student must be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen and must have a valid Social Security number. The loan origination fee is 4 percent. The interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent, and interest begins to accrue immediately. Payment starts within 60 days of the last disbursement but can be deferred while the student is in school. The student will be given up to 10 years to repay the loan. Students are not awarded Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans in their initial award offer because students must also not have an adverse credit history, as determined by a credit check, to be eligible.   

How to Apply
Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Also, students must complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling, a Graduate PLUS application, and a Master Promissory Note. These requirements can be completed online at www.studentloans.gov. Students must also meet credit eligibility requirements.

back to top

State Loan Assumption Program

Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE)
The APLE is a competitive teacher incentive program designed to encourage outstanding students, district interns, and out-of-state teachers to become California teachers in subject areas where a critical teacher shortage has been identified or in designated schools meeting specific criteria established by the superintendent of public instruction. In order to be eligible for this assumption program, the student must be approved to receive or have received an educational loan(s) and must not be in default on any educational loan(s). The student must also agree to teach in a designated California public school or in subject areas where a critical teacher shortage has been identified. Additional information and an application can be found on the California Student Aid Commission’s website or by calling 916.526.7590.

Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program Benefit
Students who received Cal Grants as undergraduates within the final 15 months of enrollment may qualify for an additional year of funding while pursuing a teaching credential. Eligible students are required to submit both a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which benefits are requested and the Request for Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program Benefits form available on the California Student Aid Commission’s website. Both documents are also available at the M Center.

Work-Study
Because on-campus work eligibility is prioritized to undergraduate students, graduate students typically are not eligible for on-campus work-study positions. Graduate students seeking part-time or other employment opportunities are encouraged to utilize the off-campus job listing services of Career Services located in the Division of Student Life.

back to top