Financial Aid
Support for your investment
Managing the costs of higher education can feel challenging. That’s why Simmons offers a range of financial aid options to help make your education more affordable.
Have questions? Our Undergraduate and Graduate Admission teams are here to help you navigate your financial aid options. Connect with us.
Simmons students come from many different backgrounds. Financial aid packages are created to help meet each student’s needs. 100% of first-year students at Simmons receive financial assistance.
What is financial aid, and who is it for?
Financial aid helps cover your college expenses. It fills the gap between Simmons’ cost of attendance and what you and your family can pay. If you think you might have trouble paying for school in any year, you are encouraged to apply. All students can apply for financial aid.
For US undergraduates, financial aid usually includes grants, loans, and work-study. When you apply, you are automatically considered for merit aid.
If you are an international undergraduate student, you are not eligible for need-based aid, but you can receive merit scholarships.
Types of financial aid for undergraduates
Institutional and federal financial aid
If you are a US citizen or eligible non-citizen undergraduate student, you can receive both institutional and federal financial aid.
These include:
- Need-based grants: These are awarded based on your financial need and do not need to be repaid.
- Student loans: These help you pay for your education, but you will need to repay them after graduation.
- Student employment: Working part-time during the school year can help you pay for your education.
Undergraduate merit scholarships
- A variety of merit scholarships are offered as part of the admission process. Most of them do not require a separate application.
Simmons puts students first and wants to help you understand your financial options so you can make the best choices. Graduate financial aid may include competitive merit-based scholarships and graduate student loans.
Graduate merit-based scholarships
Your hard work and excellent academic background should be recognized. That’s why Simmons offers competitive merit-based scholarships. Many are tied to specific graduate programs, so be sure to check what’s available for your program.
Graduate student loans
Graduate student loans can help you pay for costs not covered by scholarships, grants, or other aid. Each loan has its own eligibility rules, borrowing limits, and repayment conditions.
As a Simmons graduate student, you may be able to use the following options:
- Federal loans: Offered by the US Department of Education, these help you pay for school. They include borrower protections and adaptable repayment options. Note: These loans are for US citizens and permanent residents only.
- Private loan options: Banks, credit unions, and other private lenders offer these loans. They can be helpful, especially if you have good credit or a co-signer.
General financial aid information
For online graduate programs in Nursing, Social Work and Behavior Analysis, we process financial aid on what is called a borrower-based academic year (BBAY). This allows Simmons to define the start of the aid year for each student and gives more flexibility and eligibility with regard to federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. The length of a BBAY must meet the federal minimum of 30 weeks in length. Therefore, students enrolled in Simmons online graduate programs are awarded financial aid under a 2 semester BBAY.
As a graduate student, you may qualify for up to $20,500 in the Direct Unsubsidized Loan per borrower-based year through the federal government. This means students generally qualify for up to $10,250 per semester.
To be eligible for federal financial aid, you must meet all these requirements:
- You must have been accepted to a degree-seeking program
- You are enrolled at least half-time per semester as defined by the Office of the Registrar, which means taking a minimum of 5 credits per term
- You must not be in default on a federal loan or need to pay a federal grant overpayment
- You are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- You are within your aggregate limit of $138,500 in Direct Loan borrowing. Please check studentaid.gov for more information on which loans count toward this limit.
- You must have submitted a valid aid application (see below)
How to apply
To apply for federal aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The school code for Simmons University is 002208.
NOTE: You must include your SSN or alien registration number on your application for admission in order for Simmons to receive your FAFSA. If you did not include it in your application, please contact our front desk by phone at 617-521-2001 to verbally provide your SNN or securely send us a copy of your SSN card.
Veterans benefits
If you qualify for educational benefits through the Veterans Affairs Office, please submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility as soon as possible. This will allow us to include your benefits in your award packet. Please visit the Veterans' Benefits page for more information.
Scholarships
The Office of Student Financial Services encourages financial aid applicants to explore all possible sources of assistance.
NOTE: We strongly advise you NOT to pay any scholarship search firm. It is more than likely that if an organization is asking for a payment to help you search for scholarships, they are not providing a legitimate service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our One Stop form can help you find answers to questions regarding financial aid, billing, payment, and veterans benefits.
Office of Student Financial Services
From financial aid to billing, we’re here to guide you and your family with clarity and care.