Funding for Your Next Professional Chapter

Financial assistance is available to help cover the cost of attendance. To apply, please complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The School Code is: E40512 (Wake Forest University Charlotte Center)

You do not need to be admitted in order to apply for federal financial aid. Completing the FAFSA simultaneously with the Wake Forest SPS admission process allows for a seamless financial aid process.

Many employers understand that when you invest in your education, it benefits both you and their organization in the long run. Talk with your HR department to see if your employer offers (or is open to offering) tuition reimbursement to support your studies.

Wake Forest offers a Sponsored Billing option to make this process run smoothly for all parties.

If a sponsor (i.e. your employer or agency) will be paying all or part of your Wake Forest tuition and/or fees, please contact spfinaid@wfu.edu for additional assistance.

A private loan can be a valuable resource for making your graduate or certificate program more affordable. It can help cover the cost of tuition and other educational expenses, either on its own or in combination with other financial aid options.

Each lender offers different rates, fees, repayment terms, and approval requirements. Students should carefully review the loan terms and conditions before choosing a lender. 

We’re proud to be an approved institution with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), where students may use VA Education Benefits to help fund their studies.

Eligibility for this benefit is determined by the VA. To get started, obtain and submit an updated Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Statement of Benefits. This can be done by visiting the VA website or your local VA office. Once you have your COE, you can send it electronically to the Wake Forest SPS Office of Financial Aid at spfinaid@wfu.edu.

To continue using VA benefits, students must be enrolled in a degree program and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Please also be aware that any difference between the amount the VA covers and your total student account balance must be paid within 10 days of the start of the term.

Please note: The following programs are currently being reviewed by the VA and are not yet approved for VA funding:

• Masters in AI Strategy and Leadership
• Masters in Cybersecurity
• Masters in Public Policy and Data Analytics
• Masters in Information Technology Management

Students in the School of Professional Studies who are enrolled in two mini-terms per semester can take advantage of an interest-free, monthly payment plan through Nelnet Business Solutions. This option is not a loan; instead, it’s a flexible way to spread your payments out over the semester. There’s no interest or credit check required, just a one-time enrollment fee of $125.

After you’ve completed the FAFSA form, you may find you’re eligible for federal loan programs. Federal aid for graduate students is limited to two types of federal loan programs. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. Additional information on both loans can be found at studentaid.gov. 

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan 

Guaranteed loans available to all U.S. citizens and legal residents. Your eligibility is determined through your completed FAFSA. Students may borrow up to $20,500 in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans per academic year. 

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

Graduate and professional students have an additional, affordable option for funding your education with the Graduate PLUS Loan. Fixed interest rate and guaranteed by the federal government, this loan can allow you to borrow up to the cost of attendance (minus any other aid received). Unlike the Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan, the Federal Graduate PLUS loan requires a credit check.

To apply for the Grad Plus loan, please go to https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/.

We believe in investing in the people who make the Wake Forest community strong. That’s why we’re proud to offer our Deac-to-Deac discount for Wake Forest faculty and staff who are ready to take the next step in their professional journey.

All verified Wake Forest University and Wake Forest School of Medicine staff and faculty are eligible for this discount program when enrolling in any SPS graduate degree or certificate program.

We offer a number of scholarship opportunities for our students. All scholarship awards will be based on information collected through the admissions process. No separate scholarship application is required. Award decisions are based on considerations including academic merit, financial need, and individual award criteria.

External scholarships can be a valuable way to help fund your graduate studies. To get started, explore online scholarship search engines like Sallie Mae or CollegeScholarships.org. You can also consider looking into industry or professional organizations that offer funding to members.