Financial Aid FAQs

Financial aid can come in three forms:

• Loans (federal and institutional)
• Limited partial scholarships
• Federal Work Study funds

Applicants whose cost of attendance exceeds their family resources are encouraged to apply for financial aid. To be eligible, the applicant:

• Must meet satisfactory academic progress standards
• Must be a citizen of the United States or an eligible non-citizen
• Cannot be in default on prior student loans

All applicants for 2023-24:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Tufts University School of Medicine Financial Aid application (can we add link

Students applying for institutional assistance should also submit:

• Signed copies of student's (& spouse's if applicable) 2021 federal tax return (including all schedules and W-2's)
• Tufts University School of Medicine Parental Information Form
• Signed copies of parents' 2021 federal tax return (including all schedules and W-2's)

When determining federal Title IV eligibility, all medical students are considered independent. Only the student's (and spouse's if applicable) financial information will be used to determine need for Title IV federal loan programs. Parental information is NOT required when determining federal financial aid eligibility.

Since institutional funding is limited, parental information is used as a way to determine the family's ability to pay for the student's educational expenses and rank students based on their financial need. It allows the Office of Financial Aid to consider all families in an equitable fashion, as the same need analysis formula is applied to all families consistently. A parent contribution will be calculated regardless of marital status and financial dependency, unless the student is 38 years or older when determining eligibility for institutional aid. If parental information is not provided, students will only be considered for federal funds.

We encourage all first time financial aid applicants to file with parental information in order to determine if a student will be eligible for institutional assistance. This information is used to rank each student in order of consideration for institutional and some Title VII low-interest loans and scholarships. If you did not qualify for financial aid as an undergraduate, do not assume that you will not qualify for financial aid as a medical student.

In the event you have documented, unusual, and extenuating circumstances, you may file a parental waiver appeal. You must submit a letter detailing the situation along with relevant documentation. You will then need 3 letters of reference from: your parent, a third-party (i.e. teacher, clergy member, physician, attorney, and/or financial aid professional from undergraduate studies), and any individual of choice. You must also submit a parental waiver application to the Office of Financial Aid. Once all information has been received, the Scholarship and Financial Aid Committee will review your request and inform you of their final decision. Parental information is only required when determining eligibility for institutional assistance (i.e. Tufts University School of Medicine scholarship and/or Tufts University School of Medicine loans) and/or some Title VII loans. Parental information is never required in order to borrow Federal Direct Unsubsidized or Federal Direct GradPLUS loans. To be considered on-time, this request with all letters of recommendation and all student documentation must be received by the priority deadline.

Families residing in a foreign country should submit the foreign tax return, as well as a copy that has been translated to English and converted to US dollars. The exchange rate must be based on the date the FAFSA was filed. If a foreign tax return does not exist in a particular country, we may accept a notarized statement attesting to all income and assets. Parents are held to the same deadlines regardless of the country they reside.

Both parents are required to complete the Parental Information Form(s) and provide their most recent federal tax returns, including all schedules and W-2s. Students should choose the parent who provides most of their support and/or the last parent they resided with to use on the FAFSA. The other parent would still be required to complete the parental information form and submit it along with all required documentation.

The priority application deadline for 2023-2024 is January 27, 2023. We realize some applicants may not be aware if they haven’t interviewed by the date. Therefore, applicants will be permitted to submit the FA application materials within 2 weeks from their interview date and be considered on-time.

All on-time applications will be reviewed first. If institutional funds remain available, eligible students who applied late will be considered. Federal student aid eligibility will not typically be negatively impacted by a late application. There may be a slight delay in the receipt of the eligibility notice. Students would still be expected to meet all registration and bill payment deadlines even if they have not received eligibility notices by those dates. Consequently, this may also cause unintentional delays with disbursements and/or refunds being issued.

Please be aware that federal loan eligibility may not be certified after the last day of classes. Students who are applying for financial aid late into the semester (within one month of the last day of classes), should contact the Office of Financial Aid to confirm that adequate time is available to process the request.

The maximum amount a student can borrow in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans is $42,722 for first year students, $44,944 for second year students, $47,167 for third year students and $44,944 for fourth-year students. Actual eligibility for these loan programs will be outlined on your financial aid award notice. Direct Grad Plus Loans that are approved may be borrowed up to a maximum of any remaining cost of attendance.

The average medical school indebtedness for the graduating class of 2022 was $238,000.

Federal Work Study (FWS) is a need-based program designed to allow students to work part-time to assist with educational expenses. The Office of Financial Aid awards FWS funding to students that meet eligibility requirements. Students are responsible for notifying the Office of Financial Aid if they are interested in receiving FWS as part of their financial aid package. Employers may find students that are eligible for work study to be beneficial as a portion of the student's earnings are subsidized by the federal government. More employment information may be found on the student employment website.

No individual scholarship will exceed the value equivalent to 100% MD tuition, and no student may receive a combination of multiple scholarships that exceed the value of 100% of MD tuition. Externally funded scholarships are considered when determining the total scholarship eligibility for institutional funding. Students are encouraged to disclose outside scholarship awards as early as possible to avoid having their institutional scholarship reduced later in the year.

Federal law clearly states that a student cannot receive funds from any source in excess of the cost of attendance. If funding not originally reflected in the financial aid package causes an over award, we may be required to reduce institutional, federal, and/or private loans as not to exceed the cost of attendance.

Students who are notified that they will be receiving outside assistance once their initial eligibility for institutional assistance has been determined will have their aid eligibility recalculated when the Office of Financial Aid has been notified. This may include reducing institutional loans and/or scholarships at the time of notification, regardless of the time of year. Students are encouraged to disclose outside scholarship awards as early as possible to avoid having adjustments made to their financial aid award later in the year.

Students who receive an outside scholarship/loan after aid eligibility has been determined and awards have been accepted will have their loans reduced dollar for dollar upon the receipt of an outside scholarship in order to reduce indebtedness, i.e. scholarships will be considered to replace loan funds. If an over award does NOT exist and students still have room within their budget, they may always request additional funding.

The Office of Financial Aid will review students who are recipients of institutional scholarship funding that receive subsequent outside scholarship awards. In order to encourage reduced indebtedness, those that are borrowing loans for living expenses, will be allowed to receive total scholarships (from all sources) that are equivalent to 125% of MD tuition without further adjustments. In other words, if students are relying on loans to assist with living expenses, they may receive an outside scholarship equivalent to 25% of MD tuition without impacting the institutional scholarship award. Total scholarship and stipend amounts received (from ALL sources) that exceed the equivalency of 125% of MD tuition will have their institutional scholarship reduced. Tufts University School of Medicine will not provide institutional scholarship funds for any student that exceed a combined total equivalent to 125% MD tuition value regardless of the source of funding.

Financial aid advisors determine a student's Total Family Contribution (TFC) when determining eligibility for institutional aid by assessing the student's (and spouse's if married) and parents' taxed and untaxed income, assets (excluding home equity and retirement accounts), and family information. The calculated TFC is then subtracted from the appropriate Cost of Attendance (COA), a figure that includes direct (billed costs like tuition and fees) and indirect (unbilled expenses such as housing and personal expenses) costs that students incur during their enrollment. What remains is the student's demonstrated financial need.

The need is reduced by any outside assistance the student expects to receive (i.e. private scholarships, military assistance) and the remaining financial need is further reduced with a standard loan component (generally made up of Unsubsidized Stafford Loans). After the standard loan component is added to the award AND if the student has any remaining need, they are considered for institutional assistance. If students file after the priority deadline, institutional assistance would be offered only after reviewing all on-time applicants and only if funds remain available. The maximum amount of financial aid that a student is eligible for will be summarized on the Financial Aid Notice (FAN) they receive but will never exceed the Cost of Attendance.

Remember that at Tufts University School of Medicine, all students are considered dependent for institutional aid and a parent contribution will be calculated regardless of marital status and financial dependency, unless the student is 38 years or older.

Students and parents' are never expected to pay the calculated TFC out of pocket; the TFC is used to get a snapshot of the family's resources and to rank students based on their need when determining eligibility for institutional resources.

Financial aid can come in three forms:

• Loans (both federal and private)
• Limited partial scholarships
• Federal Work Study funds

Applicants whose cost of attendance exceeds their family resources are encouraged to apply for financial aid. To be eligible, the applicant:

• Must be accepted or enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program
• Must meet satisfactory academic progress standards
• Must be a citizen of the United States or an eligible non-citizen
• Cannot be in default with prior student loans

Public Health students may obtain Teaching Assistantships or Research Assistantships. There are currently no assistantships for Nutrition students.  Should students wish to apply for student employment (both on and off-campus), including Federal Work Study opportunities, please visit the Student Employment website.

Federal Work Study (FWS) is a need-based program designed to allow students to work part-time to assist with educational expenses. The Office of Financial Aid awards FWS funding to students that meet eligibility requirements. Students are responsible for notifying the Office of Financial Aid if they are interested in receiving FWS as part of their financial aid package. Employers may find students who are eligible for work study to be beneficial as a portion of the student's earnings are subsidized by the federal government. More employment information may be found online at the Student Employment website.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Tufts University School of Medicine Financial Aid application

*Students may be required to submit signed copies of student's (& spouse's if applicable) prior-prior year Federal Tax Returns (including all schedules and W-2′s) if selected for the verification process.

Students do not need to maintain full-time status but must be attending at least half-time to receive financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid will determine eligibility each semester based on the estimated number of credits that students plan to enroll in. It is imperative that students sign up for courses as early as possible if they are a financial aid recipient. While awards are based on estimated enrollment, the Office of Financial Aid must verify actual enrollment after the add/drop period has ended. If the actual credit hours are different than originally estimated, eligibility may change. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid if they will be taking more or less credit hours than originally planned. Students who are not officially enrolled in classes at least half-time when funds are received will be considered ineligible and all funds will be returned to the lender.

The priority consideration date for having financial aid applications submitted for the Fall 2023 semester is January 27, 2023. Students who have submitted all paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid by the priority consideration date will begin to receive award notices beginning in late March.

For students who are beginning studies in the Spring 2024 semester, the priority consideration date is November 3, 2023. Students who have submitted all paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid by the priority consideration date will begin to receive award notices in December.

Federal student aid eligibility will not typically be negatively impacted by a late application. There may be a slight delay in the receipt of the eligibility notice. Students would still be expected to meet all registration and bill payment deadlines even if they have not received eligibility notices by those dates. Consequently, this may also cause unintentional delays with disbursements and/or refunds being issued.

Please be aware that federal loan eligibility may not be certified after the last day of classes. Students who are applying for financial aid late into the semester (within one month of the last day of classes), should contact the Office of Financial Aid to confirm that adequate time is available to process the request.

Graduate students are considered independent and the federal government does not require parental information to be included when determining a student's eligibility.

The maximum amount a student can borrow in Unsubsidized Direct Loans is $20,500. Matriculated students enrolled in the Masters of Public Health program may be eligible to borrow an additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan up to $12,500. Actual eligibility for these loan programs will be outlined on your financial aid award notice. As stated above, these amounts may change if students do not enroll in the number of credits that were originally estimated on the financial aid application.

Yes, students are eligible to receive federal financial aid for summer course work if they meet the financial aid requirements above which include being enrolled on at least a half-time basis. The Office of Financial Aid combines the credit hours earned in Summer I and Summer II to determine eligibility for federal loans. The Office of Financial Aid may award any remaining Direct Unsubsidized eligibility to be used for summer enrollment periods. If the student is otherwise eligible for financial aid but has no remaining Direct Unsubsidized loan eligibility, Federal Graduate PLUS loans may be awarded. As a last resource for students who may not be eligible for federal aid based on enrollment plans, the Office of Financial Aid may recommend a private alternative loan. The Office of Financial Aid recommends that students discuss available options if they are considering summer enrollment.

Non-matriculated students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. Students must matriculate into a certificate or degree program in order to be eligible.

The average indebtedness for 2022 graduates by program: 

MBS: $73,561

MPH: $75,781

PA: $138105

NU: $66,312

Financial aid can come in three forms:

• Loans (both federal and private)
• Federal Work Study funds
• Outside scholarships or loans from private corporations, agencies, foundations, charities, etc. that students apply for on their own

Applicants whose cost of attendance exceeds their family resources are encouraged to apply for financial aid. To be eligible, the applicant:

• Must be accepted or enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program
• Must meet satisfactory academic progress standards
• Must be a citizen of the United States or an eligible non-citizen
• Cannot be in default with prior student loans

Assistantships are currently not available to students; however, students may apply for student employment (both on and off-campus), which may include Federal Work Study jobs. You may find more employment information online from the Student Employment Office.

Federal Work Study (FWS) is a need-based program designed to allow students to work part-time to assist with educational expenses. The Office of Financial Aid awards FWS funding to students that meet eligibility requirements. Students are responsible for notifying the Office of Financial Aid if they are interested in receiving FWS as part of their financial aid package. Employers may find students that are eligible for work study to be beneficial as a portion of the student's earnings are subsidized by the federal government. More employment information may be found online from the Student Employment Office.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Tufts University School of Medicine Financial Aid application

Students may be required to submit signed copies of student's (and spouse's, if applicable) prior-year Federal Tax Returns (including all schedules and W-2s) if selected for the verification process.

The priority consideration date for having financial aid applications submitted for the Fall 2023 semester is January 27, 2023. Students who have submitted all paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid by the priority consideration date will begin to receive award notices beginning in late March.

For students who are beginning studies in the Spring 2024 semester, the priority consideration date is November 3, 2023. Students who have submitted all paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid by the priority consideration date will begin to receive award notices in December.

Federal student aid eligibility will not typically be negatively impacted by a late application. There may be a slight delay in the receipt of the eligibility notice. Students would still be expected to meet all registration and bill payment deadlines even if they have not received eligibility notices by those dates. Consequently, this may also cause unintentional delays with disbursements and/or refunds being issued.

Please be aware that federal loan eligibility may not be certified after the last day of classes. Students who are applying for financial aid late into the semester (within one month of the last day of classes), should contact the Office of Financial Aid to confirm that adequate time is available to process the request.

Graduate students are considered independent and the federal government does not require parental information to be included when determining a student's eligibility.

The maximum amount a student can borrow in Direct Unsubsidized Loans is $20,500. Students may also be eligible to borrow the remainder of their Cost of Attendance in Graduate PLUS Loans.

Yes, students are eligible to receive federal financial aid for summer course work if they meet the financial aid requirements above which include being enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Students enrolled in the 2-credit thesis over the summer of their first year do not pay tuition but are considered enrolled full-time and are eligible to borrow for summer living expenses. If the student is otherwise eligible for financial aid but has no remaining annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility, Federal Graduate PLUS loans may be awarded. The Office of Financial Aid recommends that students discuss available options if they are considering summer enrollment.

Non-matriculated students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. Students must matriculate into a certificate or degree program in order to be eligible.

PhD students' tuition and fees are covered by tuition waivers and stipends for living expenses. Students are not generally eligible for funds exceeding these amounts. However, in rare cases, additional financial aid may be made available from:

• Loans (both federal and private)
• Outside scholarships or loans from private corporations, agencies, foundations, charities, etc. that students apply for on their own

Applicants whose cost of attendance exceeds their family resources are encouraged to apply for financial aid. To be eligible, the applicant:

• Must be accepted or enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program
• Must meet satisfactory academic progress standards
• Must be a citizen of the United States or an eligible non-citizen
• Cannot be in default with prior student loans

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Tufts University School of Medicine Financial Aid application

Signed copies of student's (and spouse's, if applicable) prior-year Federal tax return (including all schedules and W-2s) may be requested by our office if deemed necessary.

The priority consideration date for having financial aid applications submitted for the Fall 2023 semester is January 27, 2023. Students who have submitted all paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid by the priority consideration date will begin to receive award notices beginning in late March.

For students who are beginning studies in the Spring 2024 semester, the priority consideration date is November 3, 2023. Students who have submitted all paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid by the priority consideration date will begin to receive award notices in December.

Federal student aid eligibility will not typically be negatively impacted by a late application. There may be a slight delay in the receipt of the eligibility notice. Students would still be expected to meet all registration and bill payment deadlines even if they have not received eligibility notices by those dates. Consequently, this may also cause unintentional delays with disbursements and/or refunds being issued.

Please be aware that federal loan eligibility may not be certified after the last day of classes. Students who are applying for financial aid late into the semester (within one month of the last day of classes), should contact the Office of Financial Aid to confirm that adequate time is available to process the request.

Graduate students are considered independent and the federal government does not require parental information to be included when determining a student's eligibility.

The maximum financial aid a student can receive each year is the difference between the cost of attendance developed by the Office of Financial Aid and the total of all other aid sources. The cost of attendance is made up of tuition and fees plus estimates for living expenses. Because PhD students' tuition and fees are covered by the tuition waiver and the stipend is intended for living expenses, there is a limited amount of remaining eligibility for financial aid. However, students who are having difficulty meeting especially high expenses with their stipend and other resources should contact the Office of Financial Aid for possible options.

The Department of Education no longer offers Direct Subsidized Loans for programs with an academic year start date after July 1, 2012. Graduate/professional level students are allowed to borrow a maximum annual limit of $20,500. The actual amount of federal loan assistance may be limited by the Cost of Attendance as mentioned above.

Non-matriculated students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. Students must matriculate into a certificate or degree program in order to be eligible.

Graduate/professional level students are considered independent for the purpose of awarding all federal funds. Need-based Institutional funds awarded in the MD program consider parental assets until students reach the age of 38. Please refer to MD policies for specific regulations regarding Institutional Aid. In fairness to all students, a standard federal need analysis is applied to income and assets to determine a student's ability to contribute. Independent students may be able to borrow through the Unsubsidized Stafford loan, Grad PLUS Loan and/or an alternative loan program.

Married Students
Federal regulations require that married students provide their spouse’s income and asset information on the FAFSA. Tufts University School of Medicine also expects that students will provide their spouse’s information on all university aid applications and submit their tax return and W-2 forms as well (if required). Spouses are expected to contribute to the support of the student. Please note, however, that federal and institutional funds cannot be used for any expenses incurred by anyone other than the student.

If you would like the FAO to consider circumstances such as decreases in income or other changes in circumstances, please contact our office immediately by submitting a written request of appeal with all documentation attached. Documentation of changes is required in order for appeals to be considered.

In addition, circumstances may arise that cause a student to need financial assistance in excess of the standard cost of attendance. In certain situations, the student budget may be increased to include additional items. Allowable items for budget increases may include: (1) necessary medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance; (2) additional lodging and transportation expenses incurred for away clerkships; (3) loan fees; (4) one-time purchase of computer with a reasonable expense; (5) other justifiable education and emergency expenses. Requests for increases must be made in writing and expenses must be documented.

Federal program regulations require an adjustment of a financial aid award containing any federal funds if a student’s award from all sources is in excess of the calculated demonstrated need. Tufts University School of Medicine reserves the right to reduce its award if necessary. If a Tufts University School of Medicine award is reduced, the policy is to adjust the award so as to leave the student with the most favorable fund sources whenever possible. The school also reserves the option of substituting other program funds, should budget allocations necessitate such conversion.

Increases in student budgets (COA) for reasonable child expenses are considered on a case by case basis. Students must document that they are solely responsible for child care expenses and that the expenses are necessary in order for the student to attend Tufts University School of Medicine. If two parties split child care costs, increased financial aid will only be considered for the student portion.

The cost of a computer is not initially included in the standard COA but can be at the student's written request, one time during your attendance at Tufts University School of Medicine. If you wish to increase your COA to include a computer (and any other necessary components outlined in the Tufts University School of Medicine computer guidelines), you must submit a request via your Tufts email account to the Office of Financial Aid. Increases in your budget for the purchase of a computer would enable you to borrow additional funds up to a maximum amount of $2,000.

To claim deferment on student loans obtained as an undergraduate or as a graduate student, a properly certified deferment must be submitted to the lender. The form is available from the lender. Timely filing of the deferment form is important, as it must be done before the expiration of any grace period. Deferment provisions on the different loan programs vary. Deferment forms are certified by the Registrar’s Office.

Short-term loan funds available to students who are experiencing temporary financial difficulties. Repayment of all outstanding short-term loans is a requirement for graduation. The maximum loan amount is $1,500. Generally, emergency loans are repaid from the student’s own educational loans as they are received by Tufts University School of Medicine.

Students relying on financial aid for their off-campus living expenses should bring enough money with them to cover one months’ worth of rent and expenses. Refund checks are normally available with a few weeks of the start of classes.

Federal regulations allow us to consider only those expenses that are directly related to your attendance at Tufts University School of Medicine for the academic year in question. The regulations do not allow us to take into consideration any payments to consumer debt (credit cards) or automobile loans when determining a student’s cost of attendance or the student’s eligibility for federal or institutional funds.

In accordance with Federal laws and regulations, Tufts University School of Medicine accepts financial aid applications, determines financial need and provides financial aid funds without regard to race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age or physical handicap.

Signing a promissory note represents your agreement to the terms of that loan and to repay the loan when it comes due. Copies of loan applications should be kept by the borrower with a copy of the promissory note detailing the terms and conditions of the loan. Tufts University School of Medicine loans are revolving funds and delays in repayment or defaults jeopardize our future ability to fund students.

If a student receives a scholarship from a private source, they are required to notify the Office of Financial Aid as soon as possible. If the student has unmet need, the scholarship will simply be added to the existing award. If the student’s need is met, their award will be re-adjusted. If possible, the least favorable award will be adjusted. Additional rules that apply to MD students are listed under MD Policies. If students have questions, they should contact their financial aid counselor.

All documents submitted on behalf of a financial aid applicant are strictly confidential. No copy or information is released to anyone, including parents, spouses, faculty members or program directors, without written permission from the student. Tufts University School of Medicine has the right to disclose information to a funding source in connection with financial aid for which a student has applied or received, as may be necessary for such purposes as determining eligibility for financial aid, the amount of aid, the conditions that are imposed regarding aid, and enforcing the terms of the aid. In turn, a student does not have the right of access to family financial information if the parents indicate nondisclosure. Many parents try to act on a student’s behalf; however, as a graduate student you are considered independent for federal aid purposes. Thus, according to federal guidelines, financial aid administrators are not allowed to discuss the specifics of a student’s financial aid or academic file with anyone other than the student. An official waiver must be filed in writing if students wish to release information to parents, guardians, or any other individual. Waivers are only valid for the Academic Year in which they were filed.

Students who did not initially request their full Direct Unsubsidized or Direct Grad PLUS loan eligibility may request additional loan funds in writing, and must have a valid Master Promissory Note (MPN) on file for the Direct Loan which is being utilized.

Please refer to your Student Handbook or your Registrar for your program's description of Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Students are responsible for making sure the bill has been paid or provisionally paid by processed financial aid by the bill due date (generally, August 1 for the fall bill and January 1 for the spring bill). In order to guarantee the ability to use financial aid as a provisional credit, you must complete all financial aid materials at least 4 to 6 weeks before the bill due date.

The request for financial aid DOES NOT release the student from the bill. Students who do not pay or have provisional credits on their bills will incur a 10% late fee. If there were changes in charges or aid since the bill was printed, students must contact the Bursar’s office to determine updated bill. Bills are not run/mailed frequently. If students have any questions regarding their bill, please contact the Bursar’s Office at 617-636-6551.

The Department of Education randomly selects students for a process called verification (if you are chosen, you will be notified on your Student Aid Report (SAR). Tufts University School of Medicine may also select students for verification under its own discretion. If selected, no funds are awarded to a student until verification is complete. Verification involves comparing the student’s FAFSA information with their federal income tax returns, W2's, or other sources of alternative documentation. Tufts University School of Medicine will notify students when alternative information is required.

The date of withdrawal will be considered to be the date on which the institution receives written notice of the withdrawal from the student. Other charges for the term, such as the health administration fee, are not prorated upon withdrawal during a term. Withdrawal prior to the beginning of a term will result in cancellation of all charges.

If a student withdraws before the first day of the semester, all financial aid funds will be returned. The Office of Financial Aid is required to calculate how much Title IV aid (Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans) the student earned based on how many days of the semester the student attended. "Unearned" Title IV aid is required to be returned to the lender(s) by the student and/or the school in this order: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, then Federal Direct GradPLUS loans. The return of unearned money may leave the student with a balance, which the student is responsible to pay. If considering withdrawal, students should meet with their Financial Aid Advisor to determine the effect on their federal loans.

In the event of a leave of absence (medical or other) or withdrawal the University refund policy will apply for any period of leave.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their Financial Aid Advisor in the Office of Financial Aid to discuss the consequences of taking a leave or withdrawing.

No tuition refund other than that due under the refund policy stated above is made when a student is required to withdraw by the University authorities or when a student withdraws from a course with a W grade. Fees are not refundable.

Students who withdraw from school for any reason will not have their loan responsibilities forgiven.

A student planning a leave of absence must arrange an Exit Interview at the Office of Financial Aid before the effective date of the leave. A student whose leave of absence extends longer than the length of the grace period on any of his/her loans, may be liable for some repayment amount on the loan. All leaves will be considered a withdrawal for purposes of repayment. Students are required to meet with the Office of Financial Aid for further instructions.

A student on leave is responsible for contacting the Office of Financial Aid to request the application materials for financial aid for the following year. A student on leave will be held responsible for submitting the application by the usual deadline date. Students on leave are not eligible for financial aid during the period of the leave.

If a student completely withdraws from school during a semester and before 60% of the semester has passed, federal regulations require that a school determine the percentage of any Federal Aid received that is earned. The amount of aid earned is calculated by multiplying the total federal aid by the percentage of the term for which the student was enrolled before withdrawing. If the amount of aid earned is less than the amount of aid already disbursed to the student, a repayment may be required. If the aid disbursed was used to pay institutional charges (i.e. tuition), then that portion of that aid that is unearned as calculated by this federal formula, will be repaid by Tufts University School of Medicine, in the order prescribed by federal regulation; first to Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, then to Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans. Please note that your tuition liability remains as described above, according the Tufts University School of Medicine Refund Policy. If Federal loan money used to pay tuition must be returned to the lender according to the federal calculation, any balance due remaining on the student’s account becomes the student’s responsibility. The student is responsible for repayment of any unearned living expense money from federal aid advanced before the withdrawal. If the total amount of this repayment due comes from loans then the student may make this repayment under the original terms of the loan. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information on this policy. Students would also be required to do an exit interview online at www.studentaid.gov if they are withdrawing or going on a leave of absence.