FAQ

WHO IS CONSIDERED FOR THE FUQUA MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS?

Every admitted applicant is considered for a merit scholarship.

HOW ARE THE FUQUA MERIT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS DETERMINED?

Merit scholarship recipients are selected by an Admissions Merit Scholarship Committee. The criteria for selection are prior academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, community involvement, extracurricular activities, and professional accomplishments. These awards are for the 2-year duration of the MBA program and range from partial tuition to full tuition.

Fuqua's merit scholarships are awarded on a 2-year basis to enable applicants to plan for the entire cost of a Fuqua education. There is no funding for new awards in the second year. Thus, students who enroll without scholarship funding the first year should not anticipate an award for the second year of the program.

The merit scholarship awards are made independent of determining a student's eligibility for student loans and work-study employment.

DOES FUQUA OFFER OTHER SCHOLARSHIP OR GRANT ASSISTANCE?

Merit scholarship awards are the only form of gift assistance offered by Fuqua. There are a limited number of award programs available to students who were not offered a merit scholarship. Based on academic standing and achievement, the Financial Aid Committee will select and invite students to apply for consideration at the end of the first spring semester. These modest awards are generally made during the summer or early fall.

Loans

How much can I borrow?

Depending on the lender, you can borrow up to 100% of your Cost of Attendance, minus any other aid (i.e., scholarships, sponsorships, other student loans).

Is a cosigner required for the loans?

For the alternative loans, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner is required. For the International Student Loan Program, a cosigner is not required.

When is my application due?

Applications should be submitted as soon as possible to cover the University charges by the tuition due date.

When should I start contacting lenders to apply for student loans?

Contact lenders after you have received your award notice. However, since alternative student loan programs are credit-based programs, students who anticipate borrowing alternative student loans may consider contacting lenders earlier to make certain that they are creditworthy loan borrowers.

Most of the student loan applications are completed and processed electronically. Therefore, paper applications are unnecessary. Generally, you will visit a lender's website to apply for a loan and electronically complete the promissory note. Subsequently, lenders will transmit your loan request to our financial aid office, so the loan may be certified and processed electronically.

On the Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification form, what amount should I use?

Enter the annual cost and the estimated annual financial assistance you will need. Your Financial Aid office can provide these figures.

How are the funds disbursed to pay university charges?

The funds are sent directly to university bursar office.

Does the fact that I do not have credit history in the U.S. have an impact on my loan rate?

For alternative loan borrowers, the rate is based upon the credit status of both the student and U.S. permanent resident or citizen cosigner. For International Student Loan borrowers, we offer the same rate for all students based on admission to Duke. The credit report or lack of credit does not impact the rate at all.

What happens if I borrow more than the cost of tuition?

For students who are borrowing beyond the cost of tuition, loan disbursements will be posted to your student Bursar account as a payment towards your university charges first, and then the University Bursar's Office will issue a refund to you for living expenses.

When do I repay my student loans?

Student loan repayments begin after the grace period (the allotted amount of time after leaving school in which you are not required to make payments on your student loans). Typically, the grace period begins on the last enrollment date of the program or graduation date. Although payment is not due during this time, interest does accrue.

Private Student loans carry a 6-9 month grace period (depending on the lender and loan program).
Before starting loan repayment, you should receive a repayment schedule from the lender of your student loans. This disclosure should inform you of the total amount borrowed, the current interest rate, and the total amount you will pay over the life of the loan if you follow the repayment schedule.

Can I make payments before I graduate and before the repayment period begins?

You are not required to make a payment before the grace period ends; however, you can make payments at any time with no pre-payment penalty. Accrued interest will be satisfied first.

If I choose to make payments while in school, is there a pre-payment penalty?

There is not a pre-payment penalty.

I received my tuition bill, but my financial aid does not show up.

Financial aid is disbursed to the student bursar accounts no earlier than 10 days before the start of each semester. As a result, students receiving financial aid from guaranteed sources (such as federal loans/alternative loans) only need to pay the amount of tuition that their aid does not cover. Students receiving financial aid can review their financial aid award to determine disbursement amounts.

Can I view my financial aid status online?

Admitted students can view their financial aid award online through DukeHub. Your Net ID and password are required to log in.

I am receiving tuition assistance from my employer or sponsor. How does this affect my financial aid?

Employer/sponsored tuition assistance is considered an additional financial resource and will affect eligibility for student loans.