Loans

Let's tackle how much you plan to borrow first. Regardless of loan type, the maximum you may borrow for each year is your estimated cost of attendance for the year less any other resources such as scholarships. But factoring in student employment and a thoughtful budget, most students borrow less than the maximum.

Loans must be repaid with interest, so it pays to borrow only what you need. Our estimated costs are a guide to make sure you cover all the relevant categories, but you should plan your budget based on your own projected costs. Keep in mind that our costs only reflect the academic year, so if (for example) you sign a 12 month lease you may need to take those extra months into account. Need help building a budget? We've got tools for you!

When you first elect loans, we realize you're likely living elsewhere and guessing at New Haven costs! In addition to our estimates, you might find a relocation calculator like this one a useful tool.

It's important to start with a realistic budget, but we realize it's only an estimate. So don't stress about coming up with the "right" amount of loans. There's no perfect estimate... it's an estimate! Life happens. You might have an unexpected educational expense (oh no, your laptop died!) or a budget win (you picked up some extra shifts).

So if you want to borrow the "right" amount simply start with a good estimate and then don't "set it and forget it." We recommend making a calendar appointment to check in with yourself November 15 and March 15. If you borrow too little or too much, we can typically adjust your loan if you request it in writing before the end of the term.

If you’re a US Citizen or Permanent Resident, we highly recommend you fill out the FAFSA with our school code (001426-00). Parent information is not required, and if you provide it for another school, we will disregard it.

The FAFSA states graduate students are eligible for $20,500 annually in an Unsubsidized Direct Loan, however YSPH students fall under the qualifying health professional loan limits. Therefore, YSPHers may borrow up to $33,000 Unsubsidized loan funds annually or $35,778 for students attending summer, fall and spring.

Types of Loans

There are two categories of loans you may use to finance your YSPH costs - Federal Loans and Private Loans. Regardless of loan type you typically begin repayment after your graduate, not while you're in school.

Federal loans offer a variety of repayment options including income-based plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Deferment and forbearance options are also available with federal loans.

Individual repayment terms vary between private lenders but in general private loans can minimize overall cost with lower interest rates and fees (especially if you have great credit). Private loans however do not offer the standard comprehensive repayment protections.

Federal Loans

Private Loans

• Educational loans from your preferred bank or credit union.
• The terms on these loans are set by the individual lender.
• These do not have flexible repayment plans.
• These do have competitive interest rates and often no origination fee.
• You can check out our historical lender list but you can also check with any credit union or bank that offers student educational loans.
• Executive students, check out part-time graduate student loan options!
• All students may be eligible for private loans, but you may require (or get a better rate with) a credit-worthy cosigner.
• Since some students apply to more than one lender to compare rates. Therefore, before scheduling your loan, we require each student fill out a loan election form that tells us who you wish to borrow with and how much you wish to borrow.

While international students are not eligible for loans through the FAFSA, some countries offer loans for their citizens studying abroad. These vary in availability and terms from country to country, so you should research those options independently.

Private Loans

• Educational loans from your preferred bank or credit union.
• The terms on these loans are set by the individual lender.
• These do not have flexible repayment plans.
• These do have competitive interest rates and often no origination fee.
• Most lenders require international citizens to have a co-signer with a strong US credit history to obtain a private student loan. Please select “International” when you view our historical lender list through ELM for the options that may be most relevant to you.
  • Some lenders, like MPower and Prodigy, offer loans to international students without a US cosigner.
• Since some students apply to more than one lender to compare rates. Therefore, before scheduling your loan, we require each student fill out a loan election form that tells us who you wish to borrow with and how much you wish to borrow.

Canadian Citizens

• You may be eligible for funding by filing an application through your province
• Keep up to date regarding Federal funding
  • Note that federal interest has been permanently waived!

• Early June - Elect loans and report external funding
• June 1 - Summer term bill available
• June 4 - Deadline to apply for fall Yale Payment Plan
• June 15 - Waive Yale Heath Plan if you have alternative coverage
• June 30 - Summer term bill due (AP, Accelerated and Executive year 1)
• July 1 - Fall term bill available
• July 31 - Fall term bill due
• November 1 - Spring term bill available
• November 15 - Review your spending & contact financial aid if you need to adjust your loans
• November 30 - Spring term bill due
• March 15 - Review your spending & contact financial aid if you need to adjust your loans

A student loan is a tool you may use to invest in your education, much like you might use a mortgage to invest in the purchase of a home. With a YSPH degree, we hope you’ll feel confident in your ability to repay it! If you use a student loan to fund all or part of your education here at YSPH we want to we want to make sure you know what to expect when it’s time to pay it back.

To estimate your monthly payment after your graduate you may use the Federal Student Loan Repayment Simulator. Tips for using this tool:

• You may use the Federal Student Loan Repayment Simulator to estimate private loan payments, but the most accurate information about your private loan repayment plan will come from your lender.
• If you log in using your FSA ID, you will be automatically linked to any previous federal loan records.
• You may use estimated salary information to see the full range of payment options that may be available. To learn more about the salaries of YSPH graduates, please visit our Career Management Center pages.

If you have federal loans from a previous degree, those payments will be paused while you are in school.

Once you’re enrolled in your first term of classes, Yale reports out your enrollment and anticipated graduation date to the National Clearing House. Most lenders regularly sync with that data, which will ensure your status changes to “in school deferment” so you don’t have to make payments on your loans, and subsidized loans will pause accruing interest.

While there is a short delay as all the systems “talk”, the enrollment will be backdated to the start of the term. Your loans will remain with the in-school deferment status until you graduate or leave school (for example a leave of absence).

We can’t report enrollment in advance, but rest assured we’re all set up to make sure your enrollment is reported efficiently. If for some reason they don’t sync successfully with the Clearing House Data (which is very rare) one month after the term begins, the registrar would be happy to sign your enrollment verification.

If you have prior private loans and are eligible for in school deferment, the registrar can sign any required enrollment verification forms once the term begins.

Should you complete another degree after you graduate from YSPH, the same thing will happen to any federal student loans you took out for your YSPH degree!