Financial Information—Financial Aid

All students who are degree candidates in the School of Public Health are eligible to apply for financial aid. Six basic types of financial aid are available: traineeships, assistantships, fellowships, tuition and fee waivers, loans, and employment. Most types of financial aid require the submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, from the UIC campus Office of Student Financial Aid, or from the SPH Office of Student Academic Services. Unless otherwise noted, additional information about the financial aid categories described below may be obtained from Ms. Ann Shorrock, within the SPH Office of Student Affairs at (312)355-4272.

Traineeships  

Training grants are awarded to graduate programs to support student involvement in specific activities. These grants may support students with stipends and/or tuition and service fee waivers. To be eligible, students must be admitted to a graduate degree program or have a completed application pending.

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Assistantships  

The SPH faculty, divisions, administrative offices, and research centers employ graduate students as teaching, research, or graduate assistants.

To receive the most current information please visit the Graduate College website at: http://grad.uic.edu/cms/?pid=1000081.

Fellowships  

Fellowship stipends are awarded in recognition of scholarly achievement and promise. They enable students to pursue graduate studies and research without a service requirement. The stipends of different fellowships vary. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all fellows are exempt from tuition, differential, and the service fee.

To receive the most current information and applications for fellowships and other financial awards, please visit the Graduate College website at: http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/awards/.

Loans  

UIC's Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) awards and coordinates assistance from a variety of federal and state financial aid programs. Graduate students are eligible for Perkins Loans, Stafford Student Loans, Loans for Parents, and Supplemental Loans for Students.

Applicants for financial aid awarded through the UIC Office of Student Financial Aid (OFSA) must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must have applied for admission to a degree-granting program of the university. To receive assistance, students must be admitted to and enrolled in a degree-granting program.

A listing of outside sources of financial aid is maintained in the Reference Section of the UIC library.

National Direct Student Loans

Loans under this program are available to students who are at least half-time degree candidates. The loans are made in varying amounts depending upon demonstrated need and the availability of funds. Interest at the rate of 5% per year and repayment of at least $30 per month begin six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Deferment of accrual of interest and repayment are possible while the borrower is enrolled at least half-time at another institution, while on active duty in the military, Peace Corps or VISTA or similar organization, during periods of temporary total disability, and for service in an internship or residency preceding professional practice. At least partial cancellation of the indebtedness is possible in certain full-time teaching and other education-related positions, and for military service in an area of hostilities.

Illinois Guaranteed Loans

Federal legislation has authorized loans of up to $5,000 per year under this program. The loan is available to full- and half-time students through participating banks and other private lenders. Although interest at the rate of 9% begins to accrue as soon as the loan is made, the federal government pays the interest on behalf of the student while he/she is in school and up to the start of the repayment period. Repayment may be deferred for periods of residency up to three years and for students who are enrolled at least half-time in curricula leading to other degrees. Individual lenders do have some flexibility regarding monthly repayment procedures, but all loans must be repaid within ten years from the start of repayment. Applications are available from lenders. Completed applications should be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid, Student Services Building, 1200 West Harrison Street.

University Short-Term (Emergency) Loans

Short-term loans in varying amounts according to need are available; repayment is expected within sixty days or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. Designed to aid in temporary financial emergencies, these loans can generally be obtained the same day they are requested if a student completes the application in the morning. During periods of registration, however, the loan may not be available until the day after the application has been presented to the Business Office. In addition, there must be at least a thirty day period between the repayment of one emergency loan and the receipt of another, except in unusual circumstances. Students must consult with the Office of Student Financial Aid to determine eligibility. To apply, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid, Student Services Building, 1200 West Harrison Street, (312) 996-3126.

Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL)

Public health students may borrow up to $10,000 per academic year ($50,000 cumulative) from one of several private lenders. Loans are fully guaranteed by the federal government, so no co-signer or collateral is required. Interest (currently 12%) begins as soon as the loan is made and may be paid or deferred while the student is in school. Unpaid interest is compounded. Repayment begins ten months after enrollment terminates. The repayment period may not exceed fifteen years. Deferments of repayment are granted for full-time study at another school; internship or residency; military, Peace Corps or VISTA service; or service in the National Health Service Corps. Complete information and application forms are available from the campus Office of Student Financial Aid.

Employment  

The SPH Office of Student Academic Services maintains minimal information about temporary and permanent work related to individual research interests and career objectives. See Ms. Gwendolyn Slaughter, 183 SPH-PI.

Other Types of Financial Assistance  

Alan W. Donaldson Student Travel Support. The SPH Dean's Office provides limited support to assist students who are presenting papers at professional conferences. For further information and application procedures, students should contact Associate Dean Babette J. Neuberger at (312) 996-5381; bjn@uic.edu. Due to limited funding students may only receive travel support from this fund once per academic year.

Loretta Pratt Lacey Award. The Loretta Pratt Lacey Award is a scholarship fund in memory of Dr. Loretta Pratt Lacey that has been established at the School of Public Health to commemorate the outstanding contributions she made to the field of public health. Dr. Lacey was a professor at the School and a faculty advisor to the Maternal and Child Community Health Science Consortium. Doctoral applicants who are committed to working on women's and girl's health issues within the African American community are eligible to apply. For more information, Associate Dean Babette J. Neuberger at (312) 996-5381; bjn@uic.edu.

Industrial, Endowed, and Special Fellowships. Various industrial firms, foundations, and private individuals have generously donated funds to support a number of special fellowships for graduate students at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The stipends and supplemental allowances of these fellowships are not uniform, and most are restricted to students in particular areas of study. Contact Ms. Ann Shorrock at (312)355-4272; alshorro@uic.edu for more information.

Illinois Veterans Scholarship. The Illinois Veterans Scholarship covers the admissions application fee, tuition, and a small varying portion of the service fee. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid, Room Suite 1800, 1200 W. Harrison, (312) 996-3126, for more information and applications. Please bring a copy of your DD-214 when you apply.

Illinois General Assembly Scholarships. Each member of the Illinois General Assembly may select one student from his/her district each year to receive a full tuition award at the University. Applications should be submitted to the two legislators from the student's district. Legislators establish their own criteria for these awards. In most cases, awards are provided for a period of one year, but they can be renewed for a shorter or longer time span. The university's Office of Student Affairs can assist in determining the appropriate legislative district and identifying its legislators. Contact Ms. Ann Shorrock at (312)355-4272; alshorro@uic.edu for more information.

Distribution of Student Monies  

Traineeships, Scholarships and Loans: Disbursements of all approved traineeships, scholarships, and loans are made by the Bursar. Students who have questions about disbursements should contact the Bursars Office, at 996-7094 or Ms. Ann Shorrock at (312)355-4272; alshorro@uic.edu for more information.

Student Employment Checks: Students who are employed on campus receive their pay through direct deposit to their bank. Checks are deposited directly from Payroll, Office of Business Affairs. Students are encouraged to open an account at a local bank or the UIC Credit Union if they don’t have a bank account. A checking or savings account can be opened at the UIC Credit Union with as little as $5.00. Should the student not have an open account they might also acquire a check card from Payroll which acts as an ATM card.