Student Loans
Many students utilize student loans to finance all or a portion of their MBA or MAcc education. Loan eligibility for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents is evaluated by the College’s Office of Student Financial Aid, as determined by the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is submitted to the U.S. Department of Education. The Office of Student Financial Aid manages all information regarding loan programs, and can provide information, if available, regarding loan options for international students. Student loans should be applied for and processed before the beginning of class each semester.
Financial Aid Awarded by the Raymond A. Mason School Of Business
Full-time MBA Program
The Mason School of Business awards one type of financial aid to students who are enrolled in the full-time MBA Program in the form of graduate assistantships. All MBA Program aid award decisions are based on merit and do not include consideration of a student’s financial need. The College’s Office of Student Financial Aid administers a comprehensive financial aid program including a number of federal and private loan resources. The Mason School of Business reserves the right to revise the information contained in this section at any time based on funding availability and restrictions and enrollment goals.
Second-Year Aid – Full-time MBA Program
Unless a two-year award is listed in the student’s acceptance letter, aid does not automatically renew. Information regarding second-year graduate assistantships are made available by e-mail to all first year students at the end of the academic year. Consideration for second-year graduate assistantships is based on a student’s academic performance and contributions to the program and community during the first year of MBA studies. Students will be required to submit an application to the Graduate Assistantship Committee for consideration for second-year graduate assistantships. Decisions regarding second-year aid awards are made by the Graduate Assistantship Committee, typically in late June after all final grades from first-year courses have been calculated. Students must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the first year to be eligible for a graduate assistantship. Those students on exchange programs or not enrolled full-time in the MBA Program are not eligible to receive scholarships or hold graduate assistantships.
Joint-Degree Students
Joint-degree students in the MBA/MPP or JD/MBA programs and dual degree MBA/MAcc or MBA/MGM programs are eligible for consideration to receive Mason School of Business scholarships. Graduate Assistantships are typically not awarded to joint and dual degree students except on a limited basis.
Master of Accounting Program
The Mason School of Business awards two types of financial aid to students who are admitted to and enrolled in the Master of Accounting Program: scholarships and graduate assistantships. All award decisions are based on merit and do not include consideration of a student’s financial need. The College’s Office of Student Financial Aid administers a comprehensive financial aid program including a number of federal and private loan resources. The Mason School of Business reserves the right to revise the information contained in this section at any time based on funding availability and restrictions, and enrollment goals.
Master of Accounting Scholarships
Scholarships are the primary form of aid awarded to exceptional MAcc students. Scholarships are made possible through state and school funds, gifts and bequests and annual gifts from companies and organizations. Scholarship recipients will be expected to write a note of thanks to the donor, if applicable.
Master of Accounting Program Graduate Assistantships
The selection for graduate assistantship positions is a competitive process that is based on undergraduate academic performance and the match between faculty or administrative needs and student skills and interests.
Mason School of Business graduate assistantship assignments typically include activities such as working in a research capacity with a Mason School of Business faculty member, serving as a tutor or resource for undergraduate course(s), and/or working with one of the administrative offices in the School. A modest research stipend accompanies most graduate assistantships. Assistantship assignments are made in most cases based upon a match between project needs and student skills and interests; the availability of positions is dependent upon funding, resource allocation and input from business school faculty and staff and may change from year to year. In all cases, assignments are made at the discretion of the Scholarship and Graduate Assistantship Committee.
Unless otherwise specified in the award notification, graduate assistantship positions are established for consecutive fall and spring semesters. Typically, two types of graduate assistantships are offered:
- A 5-hour per week assistantship (or the equivalent of 75 hours per semester for each of the fall and spring semesters), which pays an annual stipend of $2,000 ($1,000 per semester).
- A 10-hour per week assistantship (or the equivalent of 150 hours per semester for each of the fall and spring semesters), which pays an annual stipend of $4,000 ($2,000 per semester). Occasionally, a 10-hour assistantship assignment may include working with two faculty members, or in two assistantship roles, for 5 hours per week each.
The assistantship assignment period includes fall, winter, and spring breaks; students may be required to work during breaks and should be prepared to do so if requested by their supervisor(s). Graduate assistants must be registered for 12 or more credit hours of graduate coursework per semester, with a minimum of 9 credit hours of graduate coursework in the Mason School of Business per semester. If a student’s registration falls below the levels described above, s/he does not fulfill their assistantship hours or assignment(s), or s/he resigns his or her assistantship before the end of the term, the student’s assistantship status and payment will be cancelled.
During the course of a graduate assistantship, a student may have access to information that is confidential or protected by privacy laws. Disclosure to unauthorized parties is not permitted. When accessing this information, graduate assistants should only access the information needed to complete a specific, authorized task. By accepting a graduate assistantship position, the student acknowledges receipt of this warning and accepts the associated responsibilities.
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