Finance Your Education
We know that financing your education is a key factor in deciding whether to pursue a graduate degree. We are here to help!
All applicants are automatically considered for Kogod's merit-based scholarships, including international students.
Your aid may include an AU scholarship or grant, federally funded grants, private loans, and/or low-interest federally funded loans.
There are more than 17 need- and merit-based Kogod scholarships for current graduate students plus 10 available to most Kogod students in any program.
Scholarships
The Office of Graduate Studies at American University is accepting applications for The United Methodist Graduate Scholarship for full-time1 online graduate students. Annual scholarship amounts are as much as $7,000 per recipient and awards are given on an academic year basis. The application period for the award has not yet been set. Learn more information by visiting The Office of Graduate StudiesExternal link:open_in_new online or contacting an Admissions Counselor.
The American University Office of Financial Aid is prepared to answer any questions you might have regarding financial aid and share information on external scholarship and funding sources.
The staff will work with you to create the best possible financial aid package and payment plan. Your aid may include an AU scholarship or grant, federally funded grants, and/or low-interest federally funded loans. The process of applying for financial aid requires time and attention to detail.
Please review all of the information posted on the AU financial aid website to ensure that you thoroughly understand the various aid options and application process. Early filing of a complete and accurate financial aid application will help ensure that you receive the best possible combination of university and non-university financial aid available.
As part of your research, we also welcome you to review a list of historical private loan providers.
American University Plans
American University offers the American Payment Plan (APP) to students as an alternative to paying your bill in full at the start of each term. The plan splits your fall or spring semester balance into convenient monthly payments, with no interest charged. By budgeting ahead for the upcoming term's charges, you may be able to reduce the amount of loans needed for the school year.
Applicants interested in learning more about American University's participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program and other veteran benefits should visit Veteran Student Services for more information.
Federal Aid
The Kogod School of Business online programs have an academic calendar split into four individual 11-13 week terms in July, October, January, and April. For each term, students must be enrolled at least half-time (3 credits) to be eligible for Federal Direct Loans. Due to the nature of the modular courses, please contact our office if you are considering dropping a course so we can better assist you in determining impacts to aid.
To apply, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available starting October 1 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis as it is received by the Office of Financial Aid. It is recommended that the FAFSA be completed by May 1 each academic year. FAFSAs should be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the end of the academic semester in which you are enrolled at least half-time.
Complete your FAFSA online.
Be sure to list the American University (AU) FAFSA code, 001434, in the college release section. (A limited supply of paper FAFSA forms is available from the AU Office of Financial Aid if you prefer.)
Additional Forms
You may be asked to download and complete a Verification Worksheet or other documentation as needed to complete your aid application. Do not complete these forms unless asked to do so by the Office of Financial Aid.
Please reference the list below to determine which FAFSA academic year to complete based on your desired start, continue/return date:
- July 2023 (T1) 2023 - 2024 FAFSA Year
- October 2023 (T2) 2023-2024 FAFSA Year
- January 2024 (T3) 2023-2024 FAFSA Year
- April 2024 (T4) 2023-2024 FAFSA Year
- July 2024 (T1) 2024-2025 FAFSA Year
Typically, graduate students are eligible for $6,833 per term from the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan as long as they are enrolled at least half-time. Half-time is defined as 3 credits per term. Eligibility for the Unsubsidized Loan is determined based on information on the FAFSA as well as loan history found once logged in on the federal student aid website.
Please note that graduate students may not borrow more than $138,500 from the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan throughout the entirety of their academic careers. You may view your Direct Loan history on the student federal student aid website.
Loan Requirements
In order for your Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan to pay, you must accept the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan through the myAU portal. Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling on the federal website after accepting the loan. Please use your FSA ID and password to access the site and complete the required paperwork.
Graduate students may be eligible for the Graduate PLUS loan to assist in defraying additional educational expenses not covered by the Stafford loans. The Grad PLUS loan is a credit-based loan from Direct Loans and requires an additional master promissory note (MPN) if approved. For more information about this loan or to apply, please go to Federal Student Aid. If approved by the lender, graduate students are eligible for up to the total cost of attendance minus all other aid received.
The Federal government requires that you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of your degree program. In general, this requires that you maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, complete two-thirds of all attempted credits, and complete your degree program within the maximum timeframe as defined in the AU academic regulations. The AU Financial Aid Office will evaluate your SAP at the end of your program’s April term once all grades have been recorded in your academic record. To review AU’s complete SAP policy, visit our website.
Current Student Support and Grants
There are more than 17 need- and merit-based scholarships for current graduate students plus 10 available to most current Kogod students in any program.
While we have relied on faculty and staff nominations as well as data received from the Office of Student Accounts and Office of Financial Aid to award these funds, we want to increase transparency and allow students to express interest in additional scholarship funding.
The purpose of the Graduate Excellence Fund is to recognize Kogod on-campus graduate students who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership inside and outside of the classroom. This is a need-and merit-based scholarship for students who have fully completed one academic semester in a Kogod or WCL (for JD/LLM/MBA) on-campus graduate program and will be enrolled in at least 6 credits in Kogod during the semester for which they are applying. Students who are full-time employees at AU and receiving tuition benefits are not eligible for this fund.
Need-and Merit-Based Scholarships
There are more than 17 need- and merit-based scholarships for graduate students and 10 available to most Kogod students in any program. While we have relied on faculty and staff nominations as well as data received from the Office of Student Accounts and Office of Financial Aid to award these funds, we want to increase transparency and allow students to express interest in additional scholarship funding.
Graduate Excellence Fund
The purpose of the Graduate Excellence Fund is to recognize Kogod on-campus graduate students who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership inside and outside of the classroom. This is a need-and merit-based scholarship for students who have fully completed one academic semester in a Kogod or WCL (for JD/LLM/MBA) on-campus graduate program and will be enrolled in at least 6 credits in Kogod during the semester for which they are applying. Students who are full-time employees at AU and receiving tuition benefits are not eligible for this fund.
Kogod students have great ideas for speakers, panels, or other types of programs and events, and we can help you make those a reality! Funds are available to support student-led initiatives that align with the Learning By Doing outcomes. Note that this fund is available to individual students, not student organizations.
The Educational Enhancement Fund provides support for Kogod students to participate in professional development opportunities, including business-focused professional conferences, case or other competitions, leadership development activities, and other experiential opportunities.
This fund has been established to provide financial assistance when a Kogod student (major, minor, or enrolled in a graduate program) encounters unexpected, immediate, and temporary personal hardship that puts at risk their ability to successfully progress in their course work toward degree completion and fulfill other commitments at AU. The fund is unable to support long-term or continuous situations, but we can help you find community-based resources to support ongoing issues.
Public and Private Scholarships for Graduate Business Students
- Beinecke Scholarship Program
- Business Leader Scholarship
- Cappex Scholarship Listing
- Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships
- GE-Lloyd-Trotter Scholarship
- Government Finance Officers Association Scholarships
- Marketing Edge Scholarship
- National Scholarship Directory
- Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
- Prospanica Scholarship