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Financial  Aid

Loans and other financial aid can be obtained for up to the full cost of attendance, including tuition and living expenses.

LOANS
The Conway School participates in the U. S. Department of Education Federal Stafford Loan Program, which can fund up to $20,500 toward the cost of graduate education. These bank loans are offered at low interest rates with a maximum 10-year repayment period. Repayment may be deferred while in school; loan payments need not begin until 6 months after graduation. Interest on a need-based Subsidized Stafford Loan is paid while you are in school. The interest on an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is not paid for you, but can be capitalized and deferred until you graduate.

Federal Grad PLUS loans are available up to the cost of attendance less any other financial assistance. These loans have an interest rate slightly higher than the Stafford loans. Repayment of these loans begins as soon as the loan is fully disbursed; however your lender may automatically apply an in-school deferment of your loan as long as you remain enrolled. There is no grace period on these loans when you stop attending school; therefore, repayment will begin right away.

Alternative or private student loans may also be available. It is important to keep in mind these factors:

  • Alternative loans are usually credit based and many loans require a co-signer.
  • The interest rate is often based on your credit rating.
  •  Fees vary among programs.
  • There is no federal interest subsidy on an alternative loan.
  • Not all alternative loan programs have a grace period.

In addition, Conway offers a partial tuition deferment loan slightly higher than Stafford loan rates to students who have been approved for Stafford loans and have borrowed less than their maximum eligible loan amounts of Stafford and Grad PLUS loans. Conway loans are offered in the second term only, and are repayable in 24 months. This fund was started by alumni donations and is perpetuated from loan repayments and additional donations. Loan limits each year are determined by the fund balance; current maximum tuition deferment possible is $3,000.

Loans can be certified by the school only after a student has been accepted and has confirmed attendance by countersigning and returning the enrollment agreement. However, to ensure that loan funds will be available when school begins in September, applicants can and are strongly advised to start financial aid applications at the same time they apply for admission. The priority date for financial  aid application is May 1 for the following September.

All students who are considering applying for financial aid should complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to determine if they can qualify for a Stafford Loan. All students who wish to apply for financial aid must complete this form before they can apply for loans or scholarships; FAFSA can be done on-line any time after January 1.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

The Conway School has no fellowships or substantial scholarships, but gladly assists students who locate other sources of scholarship funding with all necessary documentation.

More information and forms are available at this page on all loan programs;  from the Financial Aid Advisor at the school; or from your local bank's student loan department. Some public libraries may also have information.