Every year, I speak with many admitted and prospective students about how to finance their Fuqua degree. The financial aid landscape can be confusing, but there’s no reason to navigate it alone. Our team members at the financial aid office work hard to ensure that resources are transparent, personalized, and inclusive of all students, regardless of their background or citizenship.
As a financial aid administrator, I aim to guide students through this process, simplifying the steps to receiving aid and helping to make attending Fuqua a reality.
Effective July 1, 2026, there will be significant changes to federal student aid funding options. One major shift that prospective students need to know about is the federal government’s decision to eliminate the Grad PLUS loan program. This change will impact many U.S. citizens and permanent residents who would have relied on this federal student loan option to help finance their education and the cost of attendance.
However, this decision is not an end to all federal student loans. Borrowers who qualify may receive a Direct Unsubsidized loan for up to $20,500 per year with a $100,000 overall borrowing cap. Please visit this page to learn more about the federal student aid updates and recent legislation regarding available resources.
Duke’s leadership has proactively assembled a list of financial support options via private lenders for graduate programs, such as Fuqua, offering competitive rates and terms. These private student loan options are available to both domestic and international students and may be used to help cover educational costs without having to rely on personal resources.
We recognize that international students often face added complexity when it comes to financing, including cosigner requirements for most loans with lower interest rates. That’s why we’ve prioritized identifying private loan options that don’t require a U.S. cosigner, in addition to the institutional aid offered through Fuqua.
Understanding the educational costs and living expenses associated with pursuing a degree can be tricky. We encourage students to consider these costs and the potential impact on their lifestyle as graduate students. This will help students determine how much they may need to borrow in student loans.
The Cost of Attendance (COA) determines the total amount that students are eligible to borrow in any given academic year, minus other aid (i.e., scholarships, sponsorships, other student loans). It covers education-related expenses, such as tuition and fees, room and board, course materials, and student living expenses over the enrollment period of an academic year.
Here are a few things to understand about COA:
We encourage all applicants, regardless of citizenship, to start planning early. Exploring scholarship opportunities even prior to submitting your admission application is advisable, as deadlines for non-Fuqua-related scholarships vary greatly.
A crucial step for domestic students and permanent residents is filing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as they are able. More information about FAFSA, scholarships, student loans, and other helpful resources is on our Financing Your Degree page.
Our goal is to help all students find ways to remove as many financial barriers as possible so they can focus on making the most of their experience.
The post Navigating the Financial Aid Process appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
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How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : Navigating the Financial Aid Process
As a financial aid administrator, I aim to guide students through this process, simplifying the steps to receiving aid and helping to make attending Fuqua a reality.
What’s Changing With Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Effective July 1, 2026, there will be significant changes to federal student aid funding options. One major shift that prospective students need to know about is the federal government’s decision to eliminate the Grad PLUS loan program. This change will impact many U.S. citizens and permanent residents who would have relied on this federal student loan option to help finance their education and the cost of attendance.
However, this decision is not an end to all federal student loans. Borrowers who qualify may receive a Direct Unsubsidized loan for up to $20,500 per year with a $100,000 overall borrowing cap. Please visit this page to learn more about the federal student aid updates and recent legislation regarding available resources.
Other Student Loan Programs
Duke’s leadership has proactively assembled a list of financial support options via private lenders for graduate programs, such as Fuqua, offering competitive rates and terms. These private student loan options are available to both domestic and international students and may be used to help cover educational costs without having to rely on personal resources.
We recognize that international students often face added complexity when it comes to financing, including cosigner requirements for most loans with lower interest rates. That’s why we’ve prioritized identifying private loan options that don’t require a U.S. cosigner, in addition to the institutional aid offered through Fuqua.
Understanding the Cost of Attendance (COA) and Loan Borrowing Eligibility
Understanding the educational costs and living expenses associated with pursuing a degree can be tricky. We encourage students to consider these costs and the potential impact on their lifestyle as graduate students. This will help students determine how much they may need to borrow in student loans.
The Cost of Attendance (COA) determines the total amount that students are eligible to borrow in any given academic year, minus other aid (i.e., scholarships, sponsorships, other student loans). It covers education-related expenses, such as tuition and fees, room and board, course materials, and student living expenses over the enrollment period of an academic year.
Here are a few things to understand about COA:
- Updated COA figures are released approximately six months prior to the start of the new academic year. Current COA information can be found here, and it will be important for students to check back for updated figures.
- Federal regulations determine the types of expenses that can be factored into the COA and require the university to use reasonable figures to establish the student living expense budget. The average living expense amounts are calculated based on annual inflation and university-wide surveys. Every three years, Duke graduate and professional students are surveyed on their monthly spending on living expenses such as rent, utilities, food (excluding outside dining), etc.
- The COA serves as a guide to help students budget within the overall living expense allowance, but how students choose to live and what they decide to spend is ultimately up to them. As students come to Fuqua from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and resources, the student living expense budget allows for a relatively simple student lifestyle. Therefore, whether living in single or shared housing, students are expected to seek housing that does not exceed the allocated amounts for rent and utilities in the student expense budget, especially if students are applying for student loans to help cover living expenses.
Start Planning Early
We encourage all applicants, regardless of citizenship, to start planning early. Exploring scholarship opportunities even prior to submitting your admission application is advisable, as deadlines for non-Fuqua-related scholarships vary greatly.
A crucial step for domestic students and permanent residents is filing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as they are able. More information about FAFSA, scholarships, student loans, and other helpful resources is on our Financing Your Degree page.
Our goal is to help all students find ways to remove as many financial barriers as possible so they can focus on making the most of their experience.
The post Navigating the Financial Aid Process appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
More...
How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : Navigating the Financial Aid Process