Loans for Graduate Students

Criteria for Eligibility

How to Apply

Follow these steps each semester you wish to apply for federal loans:

1. Complete the Federal Direct Loan Request for Graduate Students

2. Complete the FAFSA

A new FAFSA must be received each year that you would like to apply for a loan. For courses taken from Summer 2025 through Spring 2026, choose the 2025-26 FAFSA. Click here to complete one now.

3. Sign your Master Promissory Note
Only required if this is your first time borrowing as a Gordon Graduate student

First time borrowers must sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) with the Department of Education. Select the form for "Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loan". Click here to complete the MPN now.

4. Complete Loan Entrance Counseling
Only required if this is your first time borrowing as a Gordon Graduate student

First time borrowers at Gordon must also complete the Loan Entrance Counseling, a federal requirement to help you understand your loan obligations. Click here to complete this now.

5. Receive Your Award Letter

Once the steps above have been completed, Student Financial Services will review your eligibility and send an award letter via email. This email will include a link to complete step 6, outlined below.

6. Complete the Loan Disbursement Authorization Form

To finalize your loan, the last step is to complete the Loan Disbursement Authorization Form.

Enrollment Status

Enrollment status is determined by the total number of credits a student is registered for within a semester:

• Part-time: 1-4 credits
• Half-time: 5-8 credits
• Full-time: 9 credits or more

Disbursement of Funds

Your loan amount will be disbursed to your student account when you have achieved half-time status. This means that you must have attended your qualifying class beyond the withdrawal period. Students who cease to be enrolled at least half-time are not eligible to receive federal loans.

Deadlines for Federal Loans

By the date your bill is due:

• Apply for admission into the graduate program
• Submit a Federal Direct Loan Request to Student Financial Services
• Complete a FAFSA for the relevant award year
• Have a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling completed
• Submit a Loan Disbursement Authorization Form to Student Financial Services

Requesting a Refund

Students with a credit balance may request to withdraw that money in the form of direct deposit or a check, once their loan funds have been officially disbursed. Click here to be directed to our Refund Request Form.

Loan Cancellation or Deferment for Teachers

Learn about federal loan cancellation or deferment for teachers at the government's Student Aid site.

Loans from Private Lenders

Private student loans are available for students who do not wish to or are not eligible to borrow a Federal Loan. We will work with any lender you choose, or you can choose from our preferred lender list here. As with any loan, Gordon College suggests that students review all terms and conditions of any private student loan before borrowing. 

To receive a private student loan you must initiate this loan with the lender of your choice. Once you have begun the application process, please notify [email protected].

Graduate Programs Cost of Attendance 2025-2026

To help you plan for all of your graduate school expenses, whether you choose to pay up-front or cover through loans, below is the estimated cost of attendance for each graduate program at Gordon. These estimates are based on full-time enrollment in graduate courses (three 3-credit classes per semester), although many students choose to pursue their degree part-time and take one or two classes at a time. In addition to those billed costs, the U.S. government considers food, housing and miscellaneous expenses to be part of the real costs of being a full time student, even though most graduate students are not eligible for housing or a meal plan on the Gordon campus. Therefore, when determining your financial aid package (including loans), we consider tuition, anticipated food and housing costs, and estimated transportation and textbook costs, as listed in the tables below.

Graduate Programs in Education Cost of Attendance For Financial Aid Purposes

Billed Costs Please note: although this estimate is based on full-time tuition, your individual bill will reflect the course load you choose each semester	Per Semester
Tuition (9 credit hours)	$3,510
Administrative fee	$75
Estimated Unbilled Costs
Off-campus Housing	$6,750
Food	$2,575
Books, transportation, miscellaneous	$1,100

Graduate Public Health Cost of Attendance For Financial Aid Purposes

Billed Costs Please note: although this estimate is based on full-time tuition, your individual bill will reflect the course load you choose each semester	Per Semester
Tuition (9 credit hours)	$5,625
Estimated Unbilled Costs
Off-campus Housing	$4,500
Food	$2,575
Books, transportation, miscellaneous	$1,100

Graduate Theology Cost of Attendance For Financial Aid Purposes

Billed Costs Please note: although this estimate is based on full-time tuition, your individual bill will reflect the course load you choose each semester	Per Semester
Tuition (9 credit hours)	$7,200
Estimated Unbilled Costs
Off-campus Housing	$4,500
Food	$2,575
Books, transportation, miscellaneous	$1,100

Graduate Music Education Cost of Attendance For Financial Aid Purposes

Billed Costs Please note: although this estimate is based on full-time tuition, your individual bill will reflect the course load you choose each semester	Per Semester
Tuition (9 credit hours)	$5,850
Comprehensive fee	$225
Estimated Unbilled Costs
Off-campus Housing	$4,500
Food	$2,575
Books, transportation, miscellaneous	$1,100

Graduate Leadership Cost of Attendance For Financial Aid Purposes

Billed Costs Please note: although this estimate is based on full-time tuition, your individual bill will reflect the course load you choose each semester	Per Semester
Tuition (9 credit hours)	$6,300
Comprehensive fee	$75
Estimated Unbilled Costs
Off-campus Housing	$4,500
Food	$2,575
Books, transportation, miscellaneous	$1,100

Graduate Financial Analysis Cost of Attendance For Financial Aid Purposes

Billed Costs Please note: although this estimate is based on full-time tuition, your individual bill will reflect the course load you choose each semester	Per Semester
Tuition (9 credit hours)	$7,200
Comprehensive fee	$250
Estimated Unbilled Costs
Off-campus Housing	$4,500
Food	$2,575
Books, transportation, miscellaneous	$1,100

CONTACT INFORMATION

Student Financial Services
Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA 01984
P 978 867 4246   |   E [email protected]   |   F 888 965 0658